DIG GIG: You may be unaware that this is Arizona Archaeology Awareness Month. Not a problem. But you'll kick yourself if you don't take a short cruise to the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument near Coolidge for the Arizona Archaeology Expo on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8. The free event includes educational tours, guided programs, living history re-enactments and exhibits galore. That's in addition to prehistoric entertainment (now that's intriguing!), Native American performers and tons of fine chow. And all the action happens at a spot settled by Hohokam farmers from 300 to 1450 A.D. Event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Casa Grand Ruins, located off Highway 87 in Coolidge. Take I-10 one hour north to the Coolidge exit. ORIENTAL PATTERNS: Shuji Asada hails from Japan, but the textile artist boasts an international following for his stunning, large-scale air-brushed cotton panels. Asada's gig is expressing life force through big, colorful pieces, and the Kyoto Selan College professor will shed light on that passion with a free slide presentation and discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the PCC Center for the Arts Recital Hall, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Call 884-6942 for information. MYSTERIOUS ORB: Those high-flying disciples are hard at it again, as UFO AZ presents a spatial extravaganza featuring galactic aficionado Ted Loman and a fascinating video from the sixth-annual International UFO Congress Convention, held in Laughlin, Nevada. Free event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road. For details, call 326-0078. PRESCHOOL PACHYDERM: Wee bargains are on the big block, as the Tucson Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Education Department hosts its fifth-annual Baby White Elephant Sale. Goods up for grabs include mint condition used kids clothes, books, toys and games, along with maternity clothes. Proceeds benefit the center's various programs for kids. Sale runs from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at the Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. Call 299-3000 for information. ART AFOOT: Dinnerware Contemporary Art Gallery weighs in with an exhibit featuring Gary Benna and Ann Simmons-Myers. Benna's series of ceramic sculptures, titled The Dance, is inspired by his relationship with, and the passing of, his wife Diane Marie Ferris. The resulting pieces are a powerful celebration of love, life, loss and rebirth. Simmons-Myers also had an artistic relationship with Ferris--the pair cooperated on 12 salt paper prints that, when seen together, tell a deeply human story in A Collaborative Portrait of Diane Marie Ferris, photographed by Ann Simmons-Myers. Exhibits runs through March 29, with an opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Dinnerware Contemporary Art Gallery, 135 E. Congress St. Regular gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Thursday. Call 792-4503 for information.

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