DEMOPOLIS-This afternoon at 5:30 Trinity Episcopal Church will begin a two-day art show featuring local artists who are getting their start in the art world and some who are seasoned veterans.

The show, which will be held this afternoon and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., is a new concept for the church, which is something Rev. Aaron Raulerson said was not an easy task.

“The interesting thing is this church is 175 years old,” Raulerson said. “In 2005 this church turned 175 years old and I have always joked that whatever we do here has always been done twice before. The funny thing is, this is the first time we have ever done anything like this.”

Raulerson said finally finding a “first” for the historic church is something that has generated a lot of excitement for the congregation and organizers of the event.

“We have never had an art show and never hosted artists and provided a space for people to sell their works,” Raulerson said. “We are excited about that. We are hoping it will be the first annual and we will be able to do something like this every year.”

The talent pool in the area is overflowing. Raulerson said he recently attended an event at the Demopolis Public Library, which allowed local artists to showcase their talents. He said after seeing the potential in the area, putting together an art show was an easy decision.

“I was present at the show at the library (Artists Showcase) and there was some great stuff,” Raulerson said. “There are so many talented artists, potters and sculptors here in Demopolis and here in the surrounding area that it was almost a no-brainer to have something like this. This is our way of doing something to support the artistic community in and around Demopolis.”

The show will be a sale to benefit the artists and the youth of Demopolis. Raulerson said they hoped to raise money to send some local students to an environmental camp in North Alabama.

“Our goal here Environmental Camp at Camp McDowell,” Raulerson said. “There is a program at Camp McDowell, which is near Jasper, for an Episcopal Camp and Conference Center that has an environmental camp. They host kids from all over.”

Raulerson said a small piece of each sale would go toward raising funds to send the children to camp. He said the camp was important because it gave them a chance to fully appreciate the world in which they live.

“This is an opportunity for us to support Demopolis school students having this experience for themselves,” Raulerson said. “A percentage of the sale from each item goes to that fund to support the trip for those kids. From a Christian point of view it helps them understand better the world that they live in and the beauty of God’s creations.”

The works of Demopolis native and International Folk Artist Jessie LaVon will also be on display as she says goodbye to a 30-year art career that started at the age of 17. LaVon’s art has been shown internationally with artists like Charlie Lucus, Lonnie Hollie and Woodie Long and Jimmy Lee Suddeth, at Kentuck and Atlanta Folk Fest. Her art is in collections and Museums in the United States, Canada and Europe.

LaVon’s art was also shown along with the art of Grand Ma Moses and Norman Rockwell at the Huntsville Museum.

LaVon’s last public appearance will be in her hometown where her career started at the Trinity Episcopal Church art show.