The Barton County Arts Council has enough Christmas art at its gallery to fill a sleigh, and one lucky art lover will win an original Chet Cale carving this holiday season, BCAC Director Karen Neuforth said.

"Mr. Cale is Great Bend’s own," Neuforth said. The piece to be given away is "Whooping Crane I," a marble relief carving depicting the profile of the endangered bird. It stands about 22 inches tall and is 12 inches wide. Tickets for a chance to win the piece are available for a requested $5 donation to the Arts Council.

"It’s a lovely piece," Neuforth said. "It is on display in the gallery." Also at the gallery, located at 1401 Main, Great Bend, is an exhibit of holiday art by area artists.

The drawing for the carving will be held on Christmas Eve. This is the second year for the Art for the Holidays drawing, Neuforth said. Last year a painting by award-winning Great Bend artist Steve Dudek was the prize.

Cale’s current and best-known project is "The Gift," a memorial to Nobel Prize winner Jack Kilby that is going up in front of the Barton County Courthouse. The artist’s contribution to this memorial will be a larger-than-life bronze statue of Kilby presenting the gift of his knowledge to future generations, depicted by two children.

He also has a piece in the holiday exhibit — another carving titled "Joseph’s Contemplation." Other area artists with works in the holiday exhibit are Judy Burnette, Wilda Merten, Lahree Merten Jenkins, Barbara Unrein, Rebecca Drach and Neuforth. The exhibit includes sculpture, fabric art, ceramics and paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Some pieces are available for purchase.

The exhibit will be at gallery for the remainder of the month and can be viewed weekday afternoons.

The BCAC is a nonprofit organization and contributions are tax deductible. For more information call (620) 792-4221.