The annual “Exhibition One: the faculty” show will feature a variety of works from the Collin faculty to kick off the 2005-06 season Monday, Aug. 28-Saturday, Sept. 23. THE ARTS gallery is located at the Spring Creek Campus, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. A reception is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the gallery. The showcased works include three- and two-dimensional paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, sculptures, small metals, photography and graphic design. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information about this exhibition and any future exhibitions, visit the gallery’s website at www.ccccd.edu/THEARTSgallery or call 972.881.5873.

Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 4. All campuses are closed.

The 2006-07 Collin Auteur Film Series, “Fools, Cons and Liars: Trickster Characters in Film” will begin Wednesday, Sept. 20, with a viewing of “Y Tu Mama Tambien.” The movie revolves around two teenagers, Tenoch and Julio, and their trek with the older Luisa to the beach. However, seduction ensues, and jealousies flair straining friendships. The film is rated R and runs 105 minutes. All screenings are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the feature film beginning at 7 p.m. Seating is limited. Some material may not be suitable for all audiences. All shows will be held at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center. For more information about the film series, contact Professor Carolyn Perry, Humanities Department chair, at cperry@ccccd.edu.

The Plano Balloon Festival is scheduled from Friday-Sunday, Sept. 22-24 at Plano’s Oak Point Park, adjacent to the Spring Creek Campus. The campus will close early Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. and remained closed on Sept. 23 and 24.

Collin presents its inaugural Book-in-Common guest Daniel Wallace, author of several novels, including “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions” in October. The name of this year’s program is “An Alluring Tale.” The events are as follows:

• Wednesday, Oct. 11 -- 7 p.m. – a screening of Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” in conjunction with the Auteur Film Series at the Angelika Film Center, The Shops at Legacy, 7205 Bishop Road, Plano. Seating begins at 6:15 p.m. and the screening will be followed by a roundtable discussion facilitated by Collin professors. Free and open to the public. The film is rated PG-13 for violence, some images of nudity and sexual references and runs 125 minutes.

• Monday, Oct. 16 – 10 a.m. -- “Baiting the Hook: Honors Institute Pre-Visit Roundtable,” a pre-author roundtable discussion hosted by the Honors Institute at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center.

• Tuesday, Oct. 17 – 7 p.m. – “Reeling It In: Author Visit and Book Signing.” Wallace will give a lecture, hold a question-and-answer session and be available to sign books and answer questions. This is free and open to the public and will be at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center.

• Thursday, Nov. 9 – 2-3 p.m. -- "Catch & Release: Reflections on ‘Big Fish’" at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center. A roundtable discussion and review of the Book-in-Common event and Wallace’s visit.

For more information about the Book In Common events, contact Betty Bettacchi at 972.881.5730, Delores Zumwalt at 972.881.5954 or Lauryn Angel-Cann at 972.377.1514. Collin's Book-in-Common is a collaborative project created by the Center for Scholarly & Civic Engagement, the Communications and Humanities Division and the Honors Institute.