MYRTLE BEACH, SC.-The delightfully whimsical Pete the Cat: Acrylic Paintings by James Dean exhibit will depart the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum Feb. 17. In this sampling of 30 acrylic paintings on canvas, Pete can be found in classic “pet poses,” along with hilarious new takes on familiar masterworks, or on location at famous sites around the world.

Electrical engineer-turned-artist James Dean initially pursued painting as a sideline from his job at Georgia Power Company. Among his creations were the occasional humorous rendering of his cat, Pete – which soon became his best-selling works and a full-time occupation for the artist.

Also on view at the Museum through April 17 are The Smiths, A Lowcountry Family of Artists, featuring oil paintings by Betty Anglin Smith, Shannon Smith, Jennifer Smith Rogers and black and white photography by Tripp Smith; and Michael McDunn: Works in Wood, featuring custom designed furniture by a gifted Greenville artisan. Admission to the Museum is free at all times, but donations are welcome. For further information, call 843-238-2510 or visit www.MyrtleBeachArtMuseum.org.

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is a wholly nonprofit institution located across from Springmaid Pier at 3100 South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. Components of Museum programs are funded in part by support from the City of Myrtle Beach, the Horry County Council and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.