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Come to Leicester

Leicester is more than a flummoxing name and rolling rural scenery: It's home to dozens of artists working in paint, clay, wool, metal, textile and multimedia. On Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21 and 22, this group of artisans and crafters open their studios for the fifth-annual Come to Leicester studio tour. Here's how it works: Art enthusiasts can download a map from cometoleicester.com and embark on a self-guided tour between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Want a sneak peek? Wildberry Lodge — the host of the event — holds a preview at its property, 135 Potato Branch Road, Leicester, wildberrylodge.com. Pop in before making the rounds of Leicester.

Portraits Across Cultures

While Haiti has recently been in the news due to crippling natural disasters, there is more to this island republic than hurricanes and earthquakes. For instance, it was the first independent country in Latin America and the first black-led republic in the world — yet it's also the poorest country in the Americas. Photographer Tom Plaut captures rare images of Haiti (as well as Malaysia, Peru, Venezuela, Thailand and the U.S.) in his exhibit, Portraits Across Cultures, on display at the Front Gallery in Pack Place. Opening reception is Thursday, Aug. 19, 5-8 p.m. packplace.org.

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