The Eatonton-Putnam Arts Foundation announces that Gene Crafton has consented to be the Guest Awards Judge for the upcoming amateur fine arts show.  

Crafton, a Dublin, teaches accounting and excel at the Oconee Fall Line Technical College. He also worked in the banking business for a number of years. However, his art interests have often pulled him in a different direction.

His artistic interests include music, photography, mixed media, painting and graphic art. He owned his own photography studio for eight years between banking and teaching. He has often displayed his work in shows, galleries and local shops. His work has won numerous awards. He is a member of The Dublin Gallery, a consortium of 12 local artists, and a member of the River Roots Visual Arts Alliance.

Crafton will judge the entries submitted in the first amateur fine arts show, which will be held at the Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, Feb. 11-19, 2012. A Call for Artists has been placed and rules for submission are available at many venues in the area as well as at the Plaza and online at www.theplazaartscenter.com under the heading of Education and Outreach. Submissions will be accepted Jan. 3-20, 2012. All amateur artists are invited to enter their artwork. Award ribbons will be presented for the first, second and third place winners in landscape, portrait, abstract, still life and contemporary. A $500 cash prize will be awarded to Best in Show.

Crafton and The Plaza will be issuing invitations to Art Gallery owners, art representatives, sponsors and patrons to give exposure to the submitting artists. Many of the art pieces in the show will be available for sale as well.