THE SITE: The Lux Art Institute in Encinitas

THE PLACE: The emphasis is on art exploration and appreciation at the Lux Art Institute, where visitors are allowed "to see art happen."

Different from the usual art museum, the Lux offers the public a rare opportunity to watch internationally acclaimed artists create and demonstrate their techniques.

Visitors also have the chance to engage directly with artists and ask questions.

The Lux is one of the few museum facilities in the country with an ongoing artist-in-residence program, featuring an artist who lives and works on-site for two to eight weeks.

The institute was created in response to a need for contemporary art as well as a cultural and educational presence in North County.

"Lux is all about creativity in action," said Director Reesey Shaw. "How do you teach creativity? By watching it. And we invite artists internationally to come to Lux to do a project with us. That process is then visible to our visitors. They can watch it develop and can each take away something that makes art and the creative process more personal and meaningful." Since admission is good for two visits, viewers can experience the artist's work-in-progress and return later to see the completed piece along with additional work by the same artist.

From Friday to Sept. 27, painter and sculptor Ray Smith, who was born in Brownsville, Texas, will be in studio. His work will be on display through Nov. 1. Smith studied fresco painting with traditional Mexican craftsmen, and lives now in both New York and Cuernavaca, Mexico.

The Lux has been closed to the public since Aug. 4. It reopens Friday.

LOCATION: 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas

HOURS: Reopens to the public on Friday. 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

COST: $10 for two visits, free for members and visitors younger than 21.

MORE INFORMATION: (760) 436-6611

ONLINE: luxartinstitute.org

SUGGESTION: Limited parking on site. Additional parking can be found on El Camino Real south of the Lux driveway. On Saturdays, overflow parking is available in the KinderCare parking lot.