By Marietta Smith

There will be a Meet the Artists reception Saturday, Nov. 18 from 2-4 p.m. during the Festival of Gifts. This is an opportunity to ask the artists questions about their work, have some light refreshments and enjoy the art.

The artists of Rail Walk Studios and Gallery have once again invited area fine craft artists to join them in presenting the “Festival of Gifts.” The event is in its fifth year of showcasing the work of local artisans during the holiday season.

Festival of Gifts begins today, Nov. 16 and will end Saturday, Dec. 9 at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, 409-413 N. Lee St. in Salisbury’s historic arts district.

Hours are Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The gallery will be closed Thanksgiving Day. The show is free and open to the public.

Among the artists in the show will be returning favorites Lena Nikitina and Tatyana Shurtz (Rail Walk artist) with jewelry;

Shirl Hull with handmade purses;

Patt Legg with ceramic muses and handpainted glassware;

Mark and Marietta Smith with stained glass pieces;

Pamela Deal with gourds and baskets;

Liese Sadler with hand woven articles;

Sharon Forthofer and Keyth Kahrs (Rail Walk artists) with small paintings; and Will Foster with hand wrought iron.

They will be joined this year by Brad Taylor with cutting boards; Larry Freiser with pine needle baskets; Ed Tezlaf with hand carved clay tiles; Bob Jones with turned wood; Sheila Ezzo jeweler; Jesse Hinson, potter; Nancy Lipe with fused glass and pottery; Connie Christman, potter; and Rail Walk artist Patty Crocker with ceramic art.

Participants in the show were invited by Rail Walk artists who found their work to be of excellent quality, original, appealing and suitable for gift-giving.

Chairing the event is Pamela Deal, Rail Walk artist who works in basketry and gourd art. Deal was an invited artist from the very beginning and is now one of the permanent artists at Rail Walk.

Rail Walk Studios & Gallery has been open since April of 2006. It is now home to nine artists who welcome visitors to view their art and studios Thursdays-Saturdays throughout the year. It is just up the street from the newly opened Rail Walk Brewery and Eatery.

For more information visit www.railwalkgallery.com or call 704-469-2781.