Third annual Hiawassee Festival of Arts

"We are putting the finishing touches on our Festival plans and with the quality of the artists and the beautiful North Georgia mountains as the backdrop, we are looking forward to our most successful year," commented Mary Taylor, 2006 Festival Chairman.

This two-day juried show at the historic Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds has fine art and crafts, live jazz performances, educational activities and a variety of tasty foods. Don't miss the dates, Saturday, August 26, 2005, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 27, 2005, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The festival features 100 local and national artists specializing in watercolor, oil and acrylic painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, wood and fiber art. It is presented by the Mountain Arts Association, with the generous support of United Community Bank, Inc. MountainTopGA and Blue Ridge Highlander.com. "We

are so pleased to be able to showcase some of our top local artists and provide a venue so they can market their work while attracting nationally known artists from around the country." Carol Duckworth, Artist Coordinator, continued, "Jurors review the artist's submissions and selection is based upon the balance of artists in each category, the uniqueness of the work and appropriateness for the festival. All displayed work must be signed and verified as the original design of the exhibitor. Artists are required to be on-site for the entire festival."

Some of the local talent includes glass artist David Goldhagen, painters Deb Collins, Aurora Harrison-Bull, Jack Beasley, Elly Hobgood and Jessie Collins, fiber artists Barbara Bussolari, Charlie Patricolo and Maureen Wilson just to name a few. For a complete listing by medium you can go to www.hiawasseefestivalofarts. org . Participating

artists compete for more than $6,000 in prizes. Visitors can watch the artists doing live demonstrations throughout the event.

The children's interactive pavilion was a huge success last year. Children can watercolor free of charge with Artist Kathy Chastain and her volunteers. Young talent from North Georgia and Western North Carolina will also be able to participate in the "Artists of Tomorrow" contest. Art students in 1st through 12th grades from Towns, Clay and Union Counties are invited to submit work for scholarships, cash awards and event display.

For a distinctive ambience, The World Jazz & Music Society provides live entertainment throughout both days. Complete schedules of the performances are on the web site. Visitors to the area can take advantage of luxurious accommodation choices from first-class resorts and quaint B & B's to rustic log cabin rentals.

"We are expecting about 5,000 people to enjoy this years festival," stated Pat Neubert, MAA President, "and we are indebted to many in the community particularly to United Community Banks, Inc. for their continuing support and also want to thank our sponsors MountainTopGA and Blue Ridge Highlander.com, Ridges Resort and Country Club, Exit Realty Mountain Properties, Hiawassee Hardware, Bank of Hiawassee, First Citizen's Bank of Hayesville, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Lawrence S. Sorgen, Attorney At Law, Brasstown Valley Resort, Fun World and the Shoppes at Fieldstone and Elois Anderson."

For $5 entry fee and free parking, the non-profit Hiawassee Festival of Arts provides an affordable and spectacular cultural experience for all. For more information, visit www.hiawasseefestivalofarts. org or call (706) 8969739.