Art collecting. The concept conjures up images of famous art collections filled with works by Picasso, Monet, or Warhol. As a beginner, the prospect of art collecting seems a bit intimidating. But art collecting, especially contemporary art on paper, can be accessible, affordable, and can provide years of joy and aesthetic pleasure. And now, more than ever, it's a great time to start collecting.

Nationally respected for its collection of art on paper by renowned artists from around the globe, the University Museum of Contemporary Art is launching the perfect opportunity for beginning art collectors. Called Contemporary Collectors, the goals of this membership-based club is to build interest in collecting and to educate new collectors by providing unique experiences with artists, galleries, and experts in the field.

The gallery will be hosting the inaugural event of Contemporary Collectors with a talk by Antiques Roadshow host and art collecting expert Dan Elias at 4pm on March 2 followed by a wine and cheese reception at 5pm. This event will provide interested patrons with the opportunity to learn more about collecting and the Collectors Club itself. Those who sign up as a charter member to the club that evening will receive a limited edition print by Rosanne Retz, an art faculty member at UMass. Membership will be open to the general public with discounted memberships available to students. Space is limited for this special event so reservations are strongly encouraged. For reservations, call 413-545-3671. For those planning to attend, it is advised to come early to view the current exhibit Under Pressure: Prints from Two Palms Press (see article on page.)

Daniel Elias, series host of PBS's Antiques Roadshow, is the owner of Elias Fine Art in the Allston section of Boston. The gallery represents the work of contemporary artists from both America and abroad. Before opening Elias Fine Art, Elias worked in various capacities at art institutions in Massachusetts, including gallery manager and curator at the Barbara Krakow Gallery in Boston, consultant to the directors of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and to Harvard University's Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts in Cambridge and guest curator at Bernard Toale Gallery in Boston. He also helped organize ArtistBook International/The New Editions Fair (New York, New York) in 1995 and 1997, an international contemporary artists books, print and multimedia fair for publishers and dealers. Elias holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Tufts University and a diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, with concentrations in sculpture and printmaking.

Dan Elias will appear at University Museum of Contemporary Art March 2 at 4pm, Wine and cheese reception follows at 5pm. Gallery opens at 11am that day for advance viewing of the exhibit of prints by Two Palms Press - Under Pressure. For reservations, call 413-545-3671