HEAD = Anne Irwin Speaks to Ladies Social Club: “Art is the Soul of Your Home”

 

About 50 women from across the neighborhood gathered on Thursday evening, February 22, at the home of Rebecca Clements to hear art consultant and former gallery owner Anne Irwin speak to the Ladies of Historic Brookhaven Social Club. The Farmington Lane resident spoke about the art business as well as buying and placing art within a home.

 

When asked how to tell if art was good or bad, Anne replied: “It’s all in the eye.” She told a story of her husband not understanding some of her purchases until one day he saw a painting of a shoe and was moved by it. “It’s what speaks to you,” she noted.

 

Anne founded and then years later sold the gallery that bears her name, Anne Irwin Fine Art. She admits to having a ton of art in her own home, including a piece in her pantry.

 

“Art changes your world and your home,” she said. “Art is the soul of your home. What else do you have in your home that no one else owns?”

 

She suggested working with a gallery and borrowing pieces before purchasing them to see how a painting, photograph, or other artwork looks in your house. She also noted that it’s fun to get to know the artist, particularly if they are local.

 

HEAD = Club Estates Garden Club Wins Awards at Atlanta Botanical Garden Flower Show

 

The Club Estates Garden Club brought home the People’s Choice ribbon and a third-place award in the Atlanta in Bloom category from the Atlanta Botanical Garden Flower Show in February. The show, held at the gardens and entitled Primavera, featured judged displays in floral design, horticulture, photography, and botanical arts. Garden clubs from across the country compete in this biennial show.

 

Club members Deborah Proctor and Karen H’Doubler created a spring arrangement with purple iris, yellow tulips, and white hyacinth emerging from a base of cinder blocks and rusted rebar. The flowers were set to look like they were blowing in the breeze, with plastic grocery bags accenting the base as if blown into the structure. The statement of purpose for their entry was: “The exuberance of spring is found all around Atlanta – even in the most unexpected places!”

 

“Our message was that even in the worst of circumstances, Atlanta blooms beautifully,” says Karen.

 

“They did they an incredible, incredible job,” notes garden club president Cheryl Durham of the Garden Estates club representatives and the two awards.

 

Another garden club member and Historic Brookhaven resident B.J. Crabtree won third place as an individual in the Upcycle class. Her entry contained plants that are non-poisonous if ingested. The flowering kalanchoe, lipstick plant, and begonia were planted in an old potty chair.