Ticket-holders to last week’s Easels in the Garden not only got to tour 12 of Edenton’s most beautiful gardens, they also were able to watch some three dozen artists painting their interpretations of Edenton in the spring.
Easels in the Garden attendees paid to visit the gardens, discuss them with docents, and watch artists at work. Painters in several media were on hand to answer questions about their art. The gardens were open for six hours on Friday, April 26, and two hours on Saturday, April 27.
Edenton artist Carolyn Burns was working on an acrylic painting of flowers from a photograph she had taken. As she worked from the image on her Kindle tablet, she said most artists were painting plein air (from life in the outdoors), but she had initially planned this work for the festival. She came to work in the gardens to support Easels in the Garden.
“I paint with acrylic, and it’s drying up because it’s so windy,” she said. “This is the fourth time I’ve participated in the Easels program, but my first time in the Cupola House gardens.”
Included in this year’s tour were Hayes Farm on Hayes Farm Rad, The Brown Elliot House at 209 E. Water Street, the Millen-Hathaway-Francis House at 207 E. Water Street, the Homestead at 101 East Water Street, the Chapell House at 203 East King Street, the Disbrowe-Warren House at 105 W. King Street, the Skinner-Paxton House at 115 W. King Street, Beverly Hall at 114 W. King Street, Beverly Hall at 114 W. King Street, the Jane and Faison Winborne home at 111 Blount Street, the George Byrum House at 100 Blount Street, the Rea-Vail House at 113 W. Queen Street, and the Murden Brown House at 111 West Queen Street.
Final ticket sales were unavailable at press time for this story, but about 600 tickets were sold for the biennial event in the past. This year’s tickets cost, depending on when they were purchased, either $40 or $45.
Easels in the Gardens is one of the most important fundraising events for the Cupola House Foundation. All monies raised go toward maintaining the 1758 Cupola House. After the April 26-27 event, the artists’ paintings were auctioned off during a party for patrons.
“It’s a dynamic experience as the flowers are blooming and the oils and watercolor paintings come to life,” said Cupola House Foundation President Vonna O’Neill of the event.
She said funds raised from last weekend’s event will help pay for several major maintenance projects as well as some operational expenses.
“We have to rebuild the arbor, rebuild and replace the fence, and replenish the gardens on a regular basis,” O’Neill said. “We constantly restore myriad areas of rot associated with the upkeep of the 266-year-old house and grounds.”
The foundation owns the Cupola House and does not receive regular state funds for its operation or maintenance.
O’Neill said the foundation depends on the efforts of its volunteer staff. Carey Stegall and Debbie Cameron co-chaired the event. They assembled a group of volunteers for various committees who coordinated the event, including obtaining the gardens, recruiting the artists, coordinating the silent auction, providing docents for the gardens, and coordinating a reception on Saturday evening, complete with musicians.
Others helped coordinate social media for the event and handle ticket sales, the brochure design, signage, flower arrangements, and the Chowan Arts Council’s Arts in Bloom event.
Most Popular
Comments / 0