The exhibit is in two parts. The first, "A Circle of Altars," showcases the artwork and altar building of women in Circle of Aradia, a women's spirituality organization dedicated to honoring the feminine divine.

The second part, "Sacred San Fernando," features domestic altars - which people built in their homes to pay homage to saints or other deities - from a variety of spiritual traditions, both mainstream and alternative, in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas.

"The purpose of the exhibit is to bring together women and men, artists and non-artists from a variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds to facilitate dialogue and discovery, and to highlight the sometimes hidden art of domestic altar building," said CSUN anthropology professor Sabina Magliocco, Magliocco's students researched and documented the traditions featured in the second part of the exhibit.

The exhibit opens with a fundraiser for Circle of Aradia from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the CSUN Women's Center, 18344 Plummer St. in Northridge. The evening includes musical entertainment and light refreshments. Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased at the door.

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, the public is invited to an "Afternoon Tea" hosted by Circle of Aradia from noon to 4 p.m. at the Women's Center. Many of the altar builders, student researchers and the project director will be on hand to answer questions. Light refreshments and musical entertainment will be provided. Tickets to the tea benefit Circle of Aradia and are on a sliding scale of $7 to $15 and may be purchased at the door.

Following opening weekend, the exhibit is free and open to the public during the Women's Center's hours of operation, noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The exhibit closes Sunday, May 27.

The exhibit is sponsored by CSUN's Bess Lomax Hawes Folklore Archive and Department of Anthropology in conjunction with Circle of Aradia's The Altar Project.

For more information, call Sabina Magliocco at (818) 677-3331.

California State University, Northridge has more than 29,000 full- and part-time students and offers 58 bachelor's and 50 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley.