Local art connoisseurs who cannot visit museums during normal hours may visit the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., tonight as the museum continues its fall series Art After Hours.

Beginning 5:30 p.m. in the museum's Dee Dee and Jon R. Stuart Classroom, visitors will explore the artwork of Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955), an American artist born in Russia. New Mexico's Taos region reminded Fechin of the Russian Caucasus, while the Pueblo's native peoples recalled the nomadic Mongols and other ethnic tribes in Russia.

"Although Fechin arrived in Taos in 1927 as the Taos Society of Artists dissolved, his contributions to the Taos art community continue on to this day," said Susan Baley, curator of education at the museum. "His home in Taos, with doors, window frames, pillars and furniture all hand-carved by the artist, now serves as the Taos Art Museum."

The next program in the series will be Sept. 18 and will focus on the art of Leon Gaspard, another Taos artist originally from Russia.

Selected artists for this fall's Art After Hours series are part of the upcoming American Artists from the Russian Empire exhibition. The international exhibition, which runs Oct. 4 through Jan. 4, examines the impact of American culture and art movements on Russian artists living in the United States and highlights the influence and contributions of Russian artists in shaping American culture.

Art After Hours programs are designed to give museum visitors an opportunity to unwind after work while getting acquainted with art from the museum's permanent collection and visiting exhibitions. Light refreshments will be served.

After the talk, visitors can stay and visit the museum galleries or attend FredFilms at 7 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium on the museum's lower level. The museum closes at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

A complete listing of upcoming Art After Hours dates and subjects is available online at www.ou.edu/fjjma.

Participation in Art After Hours is free with paid admission to the museum or free with a museum membership. Admission to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is free to University of Oklahoma students with a current student ID and museum association members, $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 6 to 17 years of age, $2 for OU faculty/staff, and free for children 5 and under. Admission is free on Tuesdays.

Information and accommodations on the basis of disability are available by calling 325-4938.