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A spirit that is not afraid

Community gathers for 11th annual Holiday Art Sale after rare snow

Despite the snowy surprise that came during the early morning hours of Saturday, artists and makers from across the county and state gathered to sell their handcrafted creations at the 11th annual Holiday Art Sale.

The City of Auburn hosted the art sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center on Opelika Road.

The event is one of the community's favorite holiday activities, and the turnout this year exceeded previous expectations.

Just over a hundred artists were signed up to participate, and with the snowy weather and icy roads, only a few were unable to attend. Organizer and art education specialist Cari Cleckler said that around 94 artists were present, who filled their tables with handmade gifts for the holiday season.

"I have been blown away by the amount of people that have come, which is amazing considering the weather that we have had," Cleckler said. 

Cleckler has been working with the City of Auburn for 10 years in the art department. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in fine arts for ceramics and went to graduate school for art education.

"You are so glad to support local artists," Cleckler said. "You are giving to the people that made the item in addition to the arts association."


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Vendors are asked to donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the Arts Association, which helps fund local art programs in the schools and in the community.

The event hosted singers, artists and even had free cookies and hot chocolate for all guests and shoppers as they entered the JDCAC.

The show attracted artists from Birmingham, Montgomery and from nearby counties in Georgia.

Artist Tim Tingle spent years working in a coal mine, and after his retirement, he decided to make unique ornaments by carving and painting various designs into golf balls. Tingle had been making the ornaments for a decade when his wife, Nanette Tingle, helped him start selling them two years ago.

When asked how long it takes to create these tiny works of art, Tingle joked, "Around 20 minutes. I guess that sometimes it depends on how long the commercial breaks are."

A few dedicated "old faithfuls" have been with the show for seven or more years.

Auburn students from the Association of Visual Artists, including the president and representatives, were there to support the event.

Local artists such as Katie Cooper, Turner B. Porter and Effie Piliouni Albrecht placed their art on display and even took new orders that they hope to complete during this busy holiday season.

"We are really excited about this event," Clackler said. "It is wonderful to see the variety of items, that's my favorite thing. I do my Christmas shopping here."


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