The 18th annual Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association Juried Art Show, featuring the works of local talent, will be judged Jan. 3 by three local artists.

The Juried Art Show will hang in the Community Center throughout January.

The three judges are painter John H. Morris Jr., photographer Alan Magazine and sculptor Don Kenworthy.

One of Kenworthy’s sculptures, “Big Blue,” can be seen in the lake in Fountain Park as part of the town’s public art collection.

Kenworthy grew up on his family’s farm in southern Idaho along the Snake River, with the Nevada Mountains and the Rim Rocks as a backdrop. After high school, he attended a one-year welding program at Boise State University and worked in the industry for a year.

Kenworthy then joined the Army and spent three years at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Infantry.

Fulfilling his duty of service, he moved to Seattle, where a few years later he started his own business doing custom metal work, contracting with builders, architects and interior designers.

Kenworthy’s work ranged from structural steel supports to artistic metal railings. This work was mainly on exclusive waterfront homes around Lake Washington in Seattle.

In 2001, Kenworthy and his wife relocated to Fountain Hills where he started focusing on his art. To date he has been creating metal art and custom metal work for exclusive residences in north Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek and Fountain Hills.

“I make art because I have to,” said Kenworthy. “I have been building things from metal all my life.

“Nature and human nature give me a lot of my inspiration; I will gather pictures, read articles, and study plants, animals, or a mountain scene to interpret it in metal with my own perspective designed in.

“My designs and work represent my passion and love for creating unique pieces that incorporate various metals, glass, wood, river rocks and whatever else catches my interest.

“For me, my art is a snapshot of my detail-oriented mind, with a bit of whimsy thrown in just for the fun of it. I hope people enjoy my interpretations as much as I enjoy creating them.”

The public is invited to the show’s reception for the artists on Wednesday, Jan. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Community Center.