The ultimate work of art hasn't yet been created, because it is impossible to travel back in time to the Renaissance and ask Raphael to autograph a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunchbox. With today's Groupon, behold the best artwork available without time travel at the Green Hill Center, located downtown. Choose one of the following Groupons:

• For $30, you get a one-year household membership for up to two adults and five children under 18 (a $65 value).
• For $15, you get a one-year single membership (a $35 value).

Every year, Green Hill Center's 7,000-square-foot main gallery displays five exhibitions of contemporary work, usually by artists who live and work in North Carolina. A single membership entitles the Groupon-holder to discounts on programs in the main gallery space, discounted tickets to the Collector's Choice holiday gala, invitations to opening receptions, and more. With the household membership, families get all the benefits of a single membership plus free admission to ArtQuest, Green Hill Center's hands-on art studio for kids and families. Check "Become a Member" information under the "Get Involved" section of Green Hill Center's website for a full listing of membership benefits.

The gallery is currently hosting work by recipients of The North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship, who are innovative artists that cross artistic boundaries using film, glass, fiber, and clay. Green Hill Center's summer programs include films and talks and are always free and open to the public. Summer ArtQuest activities (a $5 per person value) spur childhood imaginations with the work of notable artists and give children opportunities to emulate them in drawings, quilts, clay pieces, and more. In the ArtQuest studio, kids can paint on a massive easel, weave on an eight-foot loom, make a pirate telescope from a paper-towel roll, and discover perpetual motion with a bit of tallow and a bowling ball.

This Groupon is for new members only.

Reviews

Green Hill Center has more than 600 Facebook fans, and four Insider Pagers award it five hand-glittered stars:

• This place is wonderful for children to get to explore their natural artistic sides! There's all sorts of different activities such as painting of all different types, claywork, drawing, etc.. It's a great family event, and even my youngest who is a little less than 2 can enjoy himself. – Cathleen R.
• This place is a must for your creative child. They have many different stations and opportunities for children to move around the center and do art projects. – Amy B.