Trailblazing on the Grill

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Original Unique Gifts

By Linda Willifor

Need an original, unique Christmas gift? Look no further than the downtown Foley Trim-A-Tree event happening now through December 23.

The event is sponsored by the Foley Art Center located at 211 N. McKenzie St. (Hwy 59). Trim-A-Tree hours at the Art Center are Monday-Saturday from 10 am-6 pm.

Put the Art Center on your shopping list to find special, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and decorations, including coastal tree ornaments, blown glassware, pottery, acrylic paintings, jewelry, wood carvings, floral art pieces, and other fine arts.

Chloe Salinas, the director of the Art Center says, “We have everything Christmas." Salinas has been with the Foley Art Center for eight years. She said it all started when she took some acrylic art classes there at the studio. "I started 13-15 paintings that I never finished. Clearly, it was not my calling." When she found out that her art teacher was leaving and that there were a couple of openings at the center, she applied and went to work the next day.

This will be the first year that Trim-A-Tree has come back to where it originated in downtown Foley. Originally, it started downtown in an old theater in 1966. The Trim-A-Tree has been at the Tanger Outlet Mall for several years but is now celebrating its 57 Annual Event at the Foley Art Center.

The Art Center has approximately 120 members of local artists. For the Trim-A-Tree event, they have invited 60 artists on a rotation so that many of the artists can participate in the event. “There will always be something big and exciting to see during the event," Salinas said. 

Local artists with their arts and crafts are sold on consignment. The proceeds go to art departments and theater grants for local schools. It is a non-profit organization. 

"There will be artists' demonstrations on the front porch during the event. Santa Claus will be there on Friday, December 8, and Friday, December 15, from 5 pm to 7 pm for pictures of families, children, and pets," said Salinas.

For more information, visit Foleyartcenter.com or FB: Foley Art Center/Trim-A-Tree for updates.