By Marilyn Bauer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sam Marshall's "Warning Sign #2"* is part of his exhibit at Sam & Eddie's in Yellow Springs.

The Taft Museum of Art is looking for volunteers to be part of its docent program. A docent is trained by museum staff to conduct tours of the collections and special exhibitions. Docents act as guides for walk-in visitors and are also part of outreach programs, working with people of all ages in a variety of educational programs.

You have to be a people person and enjoy constant contact with museum visitors. Every tour is different; you'll be required to adapt to visitors' needs.

The training takes two years and docents are committed to 16 hours of service per month. The training sessions are held weekly and incorporate art history, the history of the Taft collection and historic house, educational theory and touring techniques and strategies.

Applications are due June 30, and interviews will take place through August. Training begins in September.You have to buy an annual membership ($45 individual or $60 for family) and pay $50 for materials.

Information: Deena Pinales at 684-4520.

Woman of Achievement

Anita Ellis, director of curatorial affairs and curator of decorative arts at the Cincinnati Art Museum, will receive a Career Woman of Achievement Award next month from the YWCA for her work on the museum's Cincinnati Wing and in the community. Ellis will share honors with University of Cincinnati's president, Nancy L. Zimpher, who has a reputation as a big supporter of the arts.

"Anita Ellis is a rare combination of scholar, educator and manager," says colleague Dr. Janet C. Haartz.

The Women of Achievement Award is given in appreciation of the diverse contributions made by Cincinnati women. The Y says this year's event is celebrating "the strides that women have made and a reminder of the obstacles they have overcome."

M experience

There's a new art gallery in Covington, M, that is showing contemporary art in historic MainStrasse Village. Owner Mason Paul has put together a dynamic space in a 160-year-old brownstone at 523 Main St.

"I want M to be more than a gallery that you would visit simply to view the artist of the month," says Paul. "I want it to be an experience."

Paul has plans for performance art, a DJ mixing lodge music, film, light sculpture and 20-foot robots.

Information: 325-4321

Photography show

Oakley photographer Sam A. Marshall has a show through May 29 at Sam & Eddie's Open Books, 232 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs. The show features 18 digitally altered black-and-white photos, mostly of nature, that contain color and focus on unusual composition. Information: (937) 767-1966.

Award garners kiss

Loren Long, who is probably one of the few people in Cincinnati who has been kissed by Madonna, has been awarded the Golden Kite Award. It is the only award presented to children's book authors and artists by their peers. Long got the kiss from Madonna while promoting their book, Mr. Peabody's Apples (Callaway Editions/Penguin; $19.95).

E-mail mbauer@enquirer.com

* In the original version of this story the photo was incorrectly identified as "One Nation Under God."