By Natalie MAIER

The Glendale Art Association’s annual Fall Salon begins today, Oct. 4 and continues through Oct. 27. It will be located at White’s Art Framing and Restoration Gallery on Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. An artists’ reception, open to the public at no charge, will take place on Oct. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gourmet food, harp music and an award ceremony commencing at 7 p.m. are just a few things that will be offered.

GAA president Dick Heimbold expects a crowd of community members to attend the reception and enjoy the artwork. Eight categories in all media will be presented at the Fall Salon including landscapes, portraits, abstract, still life, animals, sculpture, photography and Glendale images. A cash prize will be awarded to the first ($75), second ($50) and third ($25) place winners of each theme of work. In addition, a $500 prize will be given to the piece of artwork ranked Best in Show and a $300 Swain’s gift certificate to the top Glendale image.

“Glendale images is an important category for us,” Heimbold said. “I’d like to see more artwork done capturing the City of Glendale, the geography of it, the people of it. Everything that goes with it.”

Each piece of artwork will be for sale, with 25% going toward the GAA’s scholarship fund. In May 2013, five art students from the Glendale Unified School District who plan on pursuing art, design or photography in college, will be awarded a $500 scholarship.

GAA Publicity Chairman Becky Mate believes that the Fall Salon will increase awareness of the art in the community.

“I think it will raise awareness of locations in Glendale,” she said. “If you take locations in Glendale and put them into the form of art, it’s a pride thing. We are proud of Glendale and we can see the aesthetic side of it.”

The Fall Salon is a win/win for everyone, Mate said. Artists have the opportunity for their work to be shown, the money from the sale of the artwork provides money for the scholarships, and it provides a night out for people.

“I think that art uplifts the community and people come together to be uplifted,” Mate said. “If you provide a venue like [the Fall Salon] where people can come and look at something that is uplifting then they tend to communicate and it makes the community more alive.”

The Fall Salon is open to all artists over 18 years old, both members and non-members of GAA. For more information visit GAA’s website www.glendaleartassociation.com/.

  Natalie MAIER