The Art Guild of Eastern Arizona, centered in the Gila Valley, is hosting its first fine art and photography show. The event will occur in conjunction with Safford’s SalsaFest, on Sept. 24-27, and will be held at Candy’s Ice Cream Company at 428 Main Street in Safford. Artists and photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to enter and, because of various categories, will be judged only with artists of similar experience.

The guild has enlisted the help of Edie Manion to judge the art. An experienced artist and judge, Manion is president of the Huachuca Art Association. “I paint in all media, and ever since my childhood, my most treasured gifts were art supplies,” Manion said. “The opportunity to try new pencils or paints was better than a birthday cake.”

Manion taught oil painting, drawing and composition for 12 years and has taught many artist workshops. Some of her other accomplishments include starting the Bloomfield Art Guild in 1993 and winning Best of Show in the International Art Show at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art in 2006.

AGEA Secretary Maggie Bryce displays her art and a poster advertising the competition. Contributed photo

Dale Holladay of Holladay’s Photo Empor-ium in Safford will judge the photography portion of the show. Dale and his wife, Janice, own and operate the photo emporium and have provided professional portraiture for more than 30 years. They are both PPA-certified photographers and have both received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Professional Photographers of America as well as the National Award from PPA.

Dale has judged photography for more than 20 years and took a class to qualify as a Professional Photographers of America accredited print juror in Atlanta. He has judged shows in Wisconsin, Oregon, Kansas, California, New Mexico and Arizona.

More information on the show can be obtained by picking up a flyer at the Chamber of Commerce at 1111 W. Thatcher Blvd., Safford, The Little Art Gallery at 832 N. Stadium Ave. in Thatcher, or visiting the guild’s Web site at www.ageaz.org and following the link with the flyer information and a printable entry form. The entry deadline is Sept. 5.