International Women's Day will be celebrated on Saturday, March 8, and to commemorate this date, Signal Hill Arts Centre will have a special exhibit that celebrates the art of women. The exhibit, "In Praise of Women" will be on display from March 4 to 31 on the second floor in the Signal Hill Gallery.

Confirmed artists who will have work on display include Beth Smillie, Melody Kozmeniuk, Marilyn Nelson, Sandra Hanni, Shelley Van De Sype, Barry Lautner, Elnora Olan, Margaret Zelionka, Judy Buzowetsky, John Nolan, Lois Olson, Shannon Colbow, Judy Henley, Grace Rose Holyer, Bev Sobush, Dorothy Howse, Nicole Griffin, Darlene Martin, Andrew Hucalak, Terry Creurer, Eileen Johnson, Colette Horack, Lew Howie, Lyn Johnson and Erna Murray. There will be a good variety of art, both two and three-dimensional pieces.

To mark this occasion, a special gala auction sponsored by the Weyburn and District Labour Council, with the support of the arts community and the City of Weyburn, is being held on Thursday, March 6 at the Signal Hill Arts Centre.

The evening will begin with a wine-and-cheese social and welcoming remarks. Many of the pieces on display, plus a reproduction by Martensville artist Jeanette Lussier will be auctioned later in the evening. Lussier's original work was created in honour of the women of the past, present and future to mark Saskatchewan's Centennial in 2005, and is entitled "Sisters in Solidarity."

Kevin Lackey will conduct the auction with all proceeds to go to the Violence Intervention Program, and all ages are invited to attend this event.

Also to commemorate International Women's Day, the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre will present "Nellie McClung" starring Yorkton actress Wendy Stricker as Nellie. The performance will be on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, beginning at 8 p.

The play is directed by Robert Loucks and written by Yorkton writer Kathy Morrell.

Nellie McClung is a historic figure who was instrumental in giving women a much-deserved place in society. Born in 1873, she died in 1951; during that time she was a teacher, writer, a Liberal MLA and a Canadian delegate to the League of Nations.

She campaigned for women's suffrage, prohibition, factory safety laws and other reforms. Forgotten for a decade, she was rediscovered by feminists in the 1960s, and was credited with advancing the feminist cause in her day and recognizing the need for further progress, such as the economic independence of women.

Advance tickets for this performance are available for $15 at Signal Hill Arts Centre, the Tommy Douglas Centre, Superior Office Products, Pharmasave, or can be bought at the door for $18.