Davidson Housing Coalition will raise money for its home repair program through sales of this 2009 calendar featuring local photographers.

Local art galleries, businesses, and artists’ groups are lining up new shows for the holiday season, inviting area artists to submit work and inviting local art lovers to visit. So Alive Gallery on Main Street is seeking eight artists for a holiday show. Lake Norman Art League invites artists to submit work for its member show and sale. Cornelius Arts Center will have a faculty art show during the holidays. A photography contest is in the works at Ben & Jerry’s. And Davidson Housing Coalition’s HAMMERS home repair program is unveiling its 2009 Images of Hometowns calendar with an exhibit that opens next week.

SO ALIVE SEEKS ARTISTS

So Alive Gallery, 108 S. Main St. next to the Village Store in Davidson, is seeking artist and artisan submissions for a Christmas in Davidson show. The exhibit will be on display during December, including the popular Christmas in Davidson festival Dec. 4-6.

Eight artists will be selected for display of up to 10 pieces each. Artists are asked to submit four digital samples of art by email to info@soalive.org by Monday, Nov. 3. Mediums can include oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pen and ink, mixed media and photography. Also accepted are works of sculpture, glass, pottery, knitting, letterpress, and jewelry. All work is sold at 50 percent commission.

The gallery is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 11-6, Mondays and Saturdays, 10-2.

HAMMERS CALENDAR DEBUTS

HAMMERS, the Davidson Housing Coalition’s emergency home repair program, is publishing another calendar this holiday season featuring local art that captures our communities through photography. The Images of Hometowns calendar will be unveiled at a reception and silent auction Friday, Nov. 7, 4-6 p.m., at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St.

Calendars will be available for purchase. The show including 29 photographs will be on display through November during Town Hall hours.

BEN & JERRY’S PHOTO CONTEST

Ben & Jerry’s will sponsor a Davidson and You photo contest this holiday season. It’s very simple, store manager Karen Toney says: “Take a photograph that incorporates Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, the Town of Davidson and YOU.” Just print it out, no larger than 4×6 inches, and turn it in at the store on Main Street. Entries will be accepted through Monday, Dec.1.

Winners will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 3 and will be on display in the shop for Christmas in Davidson (Dec. 4-6) and through January 2009. Please include a full name, age, any relevant information/story about the photo and email address on the back of the photo. Photos will not be returned. (“I might want to wall paper my office at home!” Ms. Toney says.)

Prizes will be awarded in four age groups based on creativity, focus and framing, uniqueness and fun.

ART LEAGUE SEEKS ENTRIES

Christmas in Davidson and the holiday season also will include the Lake Norman Art League’s “Small Works 2008 Exhibit & Sale,” which will be on display at South Main Square offices, 442 S. Main St.

Artists may submit entries during the exhibit take-in: Monday, Nov.10, from 3 to 7 p.m. at South Main Square. Artists must be members of the art league, and may hang up to three entries. (You can join the league when you enter.)

An opening reception is planned Friday, Nov.14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The Small Works Exhibit and Sale will be open to the public during Christmas in Davidson, Dec. 4-6, from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly. All works must be for sale. The art league will retain a 10 percent. More information: www.lknart.org

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER SHOW

Instructors and staff at the Creative Art Exchange and Childrens Arts Project will show their work at a Faculty Show in November and December at Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., behind the police station in Cornelius.

The show will run through Dec. 27, and there’s an opening reception Friday, Nov. 7, 7-8:30 p.m.

Details: www.creativeartexchange.org/