L/A Arts invites area artists to submit up to 4 pieces of artwork, fine craft, or jewelry to the upcoming Winter Light exhibit, an art show and sale that will celebrate the approaching holiday season.

December is a month of limited daylight, with the Winter Solstice being the shortest day of the year. While the lack of sunlight during these short days is linked to the "winter blues" for some, ways can be found to revitalize the spirit: art can be one of the most powerful cures for a low spirit.

December is also a traditional time of cultural gatherings and gift sharing, a time to look forward to during the dark days of winter, when connections with family and friends are reinforced.

Creativity is a light that can illuminate the world around us. Making works of art, and appreciating the art of others, are ways to create our own light which can be shared. Traditional midwinter celebrations incorporate bright light and fires, dancing, singing, and feasting as a way of combating winter gloom or celebrating this special season. By turning to outlets which let us express creative energy, we can bring brilliance to the darkest days of the year.

Once again this holiday exhibit will feature in both L/A Arts Gallery 5 (49 Lisbon Street, Lewiston) and Community Gallery (221 Lisbon Street Lewiston). The exhibit will run from Friday, November 6 through Saturday, December 19, with special open houses and holiday hours to make purchasing art as convenient as possible. Participating artists are encouraged to take a turn staffing one of the spaces and make connections with those who would share in their artistic creations.

The deadline for submission is Sunday, October 11. Work must be submitted as JPEG images on a CD, to be delivered to the L/A Arts office at 221 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. This exhibit will be juried and artists will be notified of selections. A submission form and guidelines is available on L/A Arts website, www.laarts.org, for artists interested in participating and more information can be obtained by contacting L/A Arts at 782-7228 or Gallery Curator Jeanelle Demers at gallery5@laarts.org.