The Bowen Center for the Arts held an ice cream social last month to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall events.

Barbara Vermillion, president of the Bowen board of directors, said the event was a community function to promote the Bowen, which routinely hosts art exhibits, fundraisers, musical groups, classes, luncheons, summer camps and much more.

Vermillion said that the money for the social came from a donation from the Big Canoe Women’s Guild, which donated money for kids’ summer programs this year. Now that the programs are over, the leftover money was used for the back-to-school event.

More than 50 kids of all ages along with adults from the community attended the social July 29 and got a chance to peek in at the artwork and old rock building. Vermillion said the work on the walls gets switched out every four to six weeks.

The calendar is packed with events from now until the end of the year, including a current exhibition, the Chestatee Artists show titled “Dog Days of August.”

The exhibit opened Aug. 4 and features over 80 2D and 3D works from modern to classical art, glass, ceramics, stained glass, fine jewelry, fiber art and chainsaw sculptures. Most works are for sale, according to Ginny Greenwood, executive director of the Bowen.

Member artists include Margy Dennis of Gainesville,  Ken Selzer of Clarksville, Ann McCormack, Anna Elrod, Bart Parto, Beth Stull, Carl Pirone, Charlotte Smith, Dena Scifers, Denise Roberson, Florence Roberts, Ginny Greenwood, Holly Adams, J.J. Graziano,  James Daniel Sr., Jamie Pederson, Jill Gray, Judy Linn, Kiera Chan, Letty Rayneri, Oscar Rayneri, Patti Pirone, Paul Roberts, Peyton Chan, Phyllis Ellis, Sue Miller, Tom Slavicek, Wanda Smith, all of Dahlonega, Josie Toney of Cleveland, Heather Stancil and Bert Grant of Cuming and Gail Watson of Toccoa.

The exhibit will continue until August 25. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

The Bowen Center for the Arts is located at 334 Highway 9 N, Dawsonville, just north of the historic square and next to Lanier Tech.

Visit www.BowenArts.org or call (706) 216-ARTS (2787) for more information.