Dawson County Arts Council presents the 13th annual Home for the Holidays Juried Exhibit Dec. 1-19 at the Bowen Center for the Arts. 

The artist reception and awards will be from 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7 at the center.

Damon Carter will be the judge. 

Carter is a well-known Georgia artist, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Georgia.

Carter’s work has been recognized both locally and nationally.

He currently serves on the board of directors of the Portrait Society of Atlanta, where he served as president from 1993-95. 

He is also a member of the Plein Air Painters of Georgia. 

Carter believes a true artist never stops learning, and he constantly studies the works of the old masters in museums, galleries and his extensive studio library.

During the last decade, Damon’s passion for portraiture and plein air painting has become his prime focus.

The interesting part of this exhibit is that each artist must enter the show and the pieces are blind judged for acceptance into the show.

Once accepted, they are then judged again once they are hung.

At the artist reception participants will be told who the prize winners are. 

Many of the finest local artists have entered pieces in the show, 120 pieces have been entered, after the first viewing the judge cuts to about 65 pieces. 

He will then award $500 to Best in Show, two awards of merit $250, and three honorable mentions. 

The reception is always a great time to meet and talk to the artists, they are always free, and refreshments will be provided by Dawsonville’s new neighbor, Food Lion.

For more information, call the Bowen Center for the Arts at (706) 216-2787.