By JACQUIN MILHOUSE

Looking for holiday gifts? The creative minds of Davidson have come up with calendars, ornaments, books, art and music that will help take the stress out of Christmas shopping. Buying the works of local artisans supports both local artists and institutions. It is a great way to give back to the community while experiencing the joys of art.

“Gardener” and other self-portraits by Davidson artist Felicia van Bork are at Cornelius Arts Center. See listing under “Galleries” below.

IMAGES OF HOME CALENDAR

The Davidson Housing Coalition can help you “give a gift of home for the holidays.” For a second year, it has produced its “Images of Home” calendar (pictured) to benefit the Hammers emergency home-repair program. Hammers helps low-income families maintain their dwellings by providing critical home repairs.

Images in the calendar focus on the theme of home, as depicted by local artists in paintings, prints and photographs. “The calendars represent exactly what were trying to do at the Davidson Housing Coalition,” said Ann Roper, the coalition’s Management and Development Fellow. “The calendar represents creative interpretations on housing and our organization works to provide housing.”

The calendars sell for $18 and may be purchased at Four Corners Gallery, Mooresville Artists Guild, Merrill-Jennings Gallery, The Village Store, and Wooden Stone. Ms. Roper says “We all need calendars!” so stop by for yours. Details: www.Davidsonhousing.org.

LAKE NORMAN POSTCARDS

The Lake Norman Art League has published a series of postcards that feature the artwork of local artists (photo). These postcards were displayed in downtown Davidson at the league’s show last spring. The Art League has chosen 12 of the works to be featured on their postcards. Details: www.lknart.org.

CHRISTMAS IN DAVIDSON

If you attended the Christmas in Davidson festival a couple of weeks ago, you may be familiar with the first annual Christmas in Davidson ornament. This festive brass ornament sold out during the festival, but is now back in stock due. These ornaments, which sell at $15 each, are a great way to show town pride and decorate the Christmas tree. The ornament features scenes from the town green, downtown Davidson, and Davison College Presbyterian Church. This ornament can be purchased at the Main Street Books, Wooden Stone, and Southern Bella, and The Village Store. More information can be found in our Nov. 16 article.

The Village Store also has Christmas in Davidson T-shirts. This year the T-shirt is white and blue and features a cardinal with a snowy background, with artwork by Anita Blackwell, a local artist and graphic designer. Megan Blackwell, the store’s proprietor, said, “This year the shirts are very different from shirts they’ve done in the past. The snowy background is especially beautiful and delicate.” The shirts are being sold for $19.95 each and can be purchased throughout the holiday season.

CHOIRS ON CD

If music is the art you like, there’s a professional recording of the Davidson Three Choirs newly on the market. This choir features Davidson College Presbyterian Church, St. Alban’s, and Davison United Methodist singing works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Vaughan Williams and others. This CD can be purchased at the DCPC office from Jane Cain or Patti Loner. Proceeds will help support CPS’ music program.

And the Davidson United Methodist Church choir also has a Christmas CD out, called “Sing We All Noel.” Sales of the CDs are helping to fund the choir’s planned singing tour of French cathedrals next spring. Details in our Nov. 20 story, “Choir raises funds for tour of France.”

BOOKS

Several Davidson authors have books on the market this holiday season.

The Village Store, Main Street Books and other local stores are selling a recently published coffee table book called “Lake Reflections,” with poems and watercolor paintings about Lake Norman. Davidson residents Virginia Quillen, the painter, and Jackie Jones, the poet, collaborated to create the book. Ms. Quillen told Davidsonnews.net in October that “I thought perhaps there was a place for a coffee table book about all the feelings people have about the lake.” Details: www.lakereflectionsbook.com. (Illustration: the painting “Spinnaker Wind” by Virginia Quillen.)

Davidson English professor Tony Abbott is making the rounds promoting his new book, “The Three Great Secret Things.” This is a sequel to Prof. Abbott’s first novel, “Leaving Maggie Hope.” It’s available at Main Street Books and other area book stores.

Local author Rosie Molinary has received a lot of attention in 2007 for her book “Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image and Growing Up Latina.” Ms. Molinary takes a look at the popular images of beauty and other issues through interviews with hundreds of Latinas. Details: hijasamericanas.wordpress.com

Meanwhile, local author Tony Brown has published “Happy Guide to a Short Life” – a response to Anna Quindlen’s “A Short Guide to a Happy Life.” Mr. Brown has the role of middle-aged father, engaging in a verbal debate with the best-selling novelist as both try to make sense of the world.

Davidson’s own Lorimer Press has a book of ghost stories, called “Thirteen Terrifying Tales from the North Carolina Piedmont.” The 95-page hardcover has tales of haunted roads and places throughout the region.

Author and designer David Barringer had his novel “American Home Life” published in September. Mr. Barringer describes the book as “a comic novel about suburban fatherhood.” Details at davidbarringer.com.

And another local author, David Fleming, saw publication this fall of his sports history “Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship.” The book focuses on the Pottsville, Pa., Maroons, one of the most dominant, influential – and controversial – teams in NFL history. It’s the second book by Mr. Fleming, a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine.

These works of art are just in time for Christmas! Please support these local artists with your patronage. Davidson has produced many creative talents that are sure to be a source of holiday cheer.

IN THE GALLERIES

Here are a few more ideas, at local art galleries:

THROUGH DEC. 24, Wooden Stone Gallery, 445 S. Main St., Davidson – “Ed Levin Jewelry Trunk Show, with works gold, sterling silver and gemstones, by jewelry designer Ed Levin. Wooden Stone also includes pottery, furnishings and other artistic usable objects. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays, 1-6 p.m.

THOUGH DEC. 31, Christa Faut Gallery, 19818 N. Cove Road, in Jetton Village off West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius – “All Things Bright: 2007 Holiday Jewelry Collection.” Featuring jewelry artists Peggy Eng, Hiroko Design, Christy Klug, Hongsock Lee and Gabriel Ofiesh.

THROUGH DECEMBER, Cornelius Arts Center, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, behind the police station, Cornelius – First Annual Art Show and Sale. Exhibit includes work by faculty and staff of Creative Art Exchange and of Children’s Arts Project. Details: call 704-892-7323. (PICTURED AT RIGHT: Ceramics by Keith Meyers.)

THROUGH DECEMBER, Mooresville Artist Guild Depot Gallery, 103 W. Center Ave., Mooresville – 2007 Members Holiday Show with paintings, prints, and other works by area artists. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 1-4 p.m.

HAVE ANOTHER LOCAL GIFT IDEA?

We’ve tried to come up with a good list of local gift ideas, but we know we haven’t hit them all. If you have a suggestion, leave a comment below! Thanks.