A new guild for Cherokee County artists is presenting its first-ever exhibit this month.

The Artists' Guild of the Georgia Foothills will display members' artwork at the Cherokee Arts Center from Friday through Oct. 29. Artwork on display includes paintings, sculptures, pottery and photographs.

An artist reception is scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served. Attendees can make purchases at the exhibit and place orders of commission work. Admission to the reception and exhibit is free.

Mike Brown, artist-in-residence at the VantagePoint Studios Gallery in downtown Canton, is organizing the event.

He formed the guild along with artist Elly Hobgood of Canton in the spring of this year. The group has 25 members that are spread out across the county and as far north as Big Canoe in Pickens County.

"The guild was formed to start trying to get the local talent together as a group so we could unify and expose our talents," he said.

The guild meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the arts center. Meetings attract as many as 30 people a month with new faces showing up each time, according to guild member Cathy Meincer of Free Home.

The show opening on Friday is the first big event for the guild, and Brown said he hopes to have similar exhibits in the spring and the fall.

"It keeps the momentum running," he said.

Brown said exposure for local artists is "badly missing."

"Visual art, 2-D and 3-D art, is not exposed, not to the caliber you would see in Buckhead, Marietta or Atlanta," he said. "The awareness is the biggest problem."

Guild member Teresa Ramsey of Woodstock said the exhibit will give participating artists exposure in the community.

"The economy is very bad. Artists are struggling right now," she said. "We are trying to help everybody. We are helping the community and helping the artists to bring in business."

Brown said he hopes the exhibit has a good turnout and generates more interest in the arts.

"Every little bit of exposure we could get helps," he said.