Project organizer Ahna Iredale said 83 plates were created this year and offered as premiums for various levels of gallery membership.

The first picks went to those donating at the $100, $250 or $500 membership levels at last Thursday evening's opening. New gallery members Doug and Carla Lien found writing their $500 check in the new "angel" category was the easy part <> choosing which hand-painted plate to take home was the real challenge.

"This year is the best showing ever," Iredale told the crowd gathered during the Plate Project opening.

Photo by R. J. Kelly, Homer News Photo by R. J. Kelly, Homer News A dragon fly painted by Dali and poyted by Carl Bice joins a display of an elephant motif painted by Ann-Margret Wimmerstedt with potter Evie Witten, and another Witten plated painted by Leslie Klaar.

The plates will remain on display through May 2, and anyone wishing to become a member of the nonprofit gallery can choose from the remaining unselected plates.

Also on display this month is another of the gallery's eccentric fund-raisers, "Zuzu's Collection." The display includes zany and uniquely decorated furniture, some of which was commissioned while other pieces are available for sale. For more information,

call 235-2662.