The Ashe County Arts Council celebrates the season with the annual holiday exhibit and Open House in the gallery of the Ashe Arts Center with beautifully decorated trees, miniature paintings and handmade ornaments. The friends and neighbors of the Arts Council are invited to stop by and enjoy refreshments, greet the staff and savor the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season.

The Gallery Shop is a holiday shopper's paradise with handcrafted items just right for your holiday gift giving. The Gallery Shop features wood, fibers, pottery, jewelry and more created by local and regional artists. The Arts Council tree is decorated with handmade ornaments by Tara Belk, Linda Bruce, Betsy Isaacs, Sharon Kasel, Jane Maddox, Pat Morrison, New Beginnings of Ashe, Cheryl Roberts, Becky Rose, Cher Shaffer, Ellen Sinford, Lyn Soeder, Holly Soukup, Summit Support Services, Jennifer Gardiner Wilson and others. To celebrate the season the Ashe County Arts Council will be offering a 10 percent discount on purchases made in the Gallery Shop during the Open House.

Original miniature paintings and photography grace the walls of the Arts Center. The works of art are twelve inches square and feature paintings in oil, watercolor, mixed media and photography by artists Tara Belk, Joan Bell, Julia Bishop, Janet Brashear, Linda Bruce, Doug Butler, Joy Campbell, Molly Gambill, Sander Gibson, Sharon Kasel, Lib McRimmon, Ed Perzel, Scot Pope, Cheryl Roberts, Susan Van Wyk and Loretta Weaver.

While at the Holiday Open House enjoy the decorated trees with themes such as Elvis's Blue Christmas by Agnes Baldwin, Joyce Cain, Catherine Finch, Susan Hunt and Wyvonna Ring; Butterfly Tree by High Country Hospice; Immigrant Hope by the Cristo el Salvador Hispanic Mission; Hairbows by Molly Gambill and Helen Sexton; My Christmas Kitchen Tree by Nancy Carter; Cabernet Carrousel by Ed and Ellie Perzel and Freda, Charles and Mark Huffstetler and the Barn Quilt Tree by the Arts Council Barn Quilt Committee.

The Open House will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the opening reception of Tree Fest from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. The reception and Open House is open to the public. Come and meet the artists, sample refreshment goodies, do a little holiday shopping and enjoy the spirit of the season!

A special thanks to the Hudler Tree Farms and Scott Ballard for the donation of the trees and to the Omni Farms for the large wreath. For more information, call the Arts Council at 336-846-ARTS.