ArtPlace Mississippi’s annual garden party returns this year on Nov. 3 in person for the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted ordinary functions two years ago.
The garden party was started in 2015 by ArtPlace’s then executive director, Hart Henson. This year, Katie Mills, who joined ArtPlace in August, is organizing the event.
“We like to expose artists and chefs and celebrate all the different arts in our community,” she said.
This year’s silent auction will feature art from local artists, a book and calendar of Wyatt Waters’ artwork, a Montezuma Island watercolor by Robin Whitfield, dinner for two at Giardina’s, and a Mississippi River day trip for two from Quapaw Canoe Company, among many other items.
Patrons of the party will be able to sample signature dishes of local chefs. Mills said each will prepare sample portions and have a serving station.
Mills said artists this year were chosen by her and Mary Neff Stewart, operator of Turnrow Art Co.
“She is the chair of our live auction committee this year, so she and I kind of sat down and went through the list of artists we’ve asked in the past, then brainstormed and came up with some people that she knew about that had never been asked before or hadn’t been asked in a while,” Mills explained.
Delta native Jennifer Drinkwater, who now lives in Iowa, is just one of many who will have art up for auction.
“She does a lot of philanthropic work with her art and does a lot of activities to promote the arts in the community. Mary Neff knew her, so she was kind of a natural choice to ask, and she was very pleased. She was the first to get her stuff here and was very on top of it,” Mills said.
An artist who chooses to be known as Church Goin Mule will also have some art up for auction. While not a local, Church Goin Mule has visited ArtPlace Mississippi and maintains a studio in the Delta while carrying relationships with both Mills and Yolande van Heerden, who teaches arts classes with ArtPlace.
“I think arts education for children is vitally important. It’s a great way for kids to learn more about themselves and express themselves. I think that’s the invaluable thing that ArtPlace brings, and I hope it will be able to continue in Greenwood,” the artist said.
Husband and wife duo Langdon and Maude Schuyler Clay will also be featured artists. Both work with the medium of photography. Maude has an exhibit, “Portraits of a Place,” currently on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.
Art is not all that attendees of the garden party can enjoy, though it is the impetus.
Local chefs will also be providing refreshments.
Known chefs such as Taylor Bowen, of Fan and Johnny’s, and Valour Taylor of the Bread and Butter Shoppe will have signature dishes available to sample.
Mills is particularly excited about chef Eunice Barrera’s hot tamales. “Everybody’s been talking about these hot tamales, and I cannot wait to have them,” she laughed. Barerra, a 10-year Greenwood resident, mother of four and self-taught chef, will be making chicken tamales.
Among other newcomers to the party are Ava Scott, a junior at Pillow Academy who makes desserts, and Paul Brown, a home health nurse who specializes in “home gourmet.”
Brown, a Greenwood native, said this is his first time cooking for the Garden Party.
The live auction this year will be called by Greenwood attorney Don Brock. “He’s really funny and really good,” Mills said.
In addition to the silent auction and refreshments, the garden party, held at the home of Megan and Powell Litton, will feature an artist meet and greet, specialty cocktails, a VIP bourbon tasting, live music and open bar.
All of this is to raise money to continue funding what Mills refers to as a vital part of education.
“The arts are so important,” she explained, “and their importance is growing, especially for younger children. A lot of jobs these kids will have haven’t even been created yet, so creativity is such an important part of children’s education in the future.”
Board member Judi Gillespie of Carrollton hopes this event encourages the arts and relationships within the community.
“I know it’s going to be great and I hope a lot of people come and enjoy it. I wouldn’t have met some of these people if I hadn’t been involved,” she said, motioning to other board members who were present to display auction items.
Mills and Erin Mulligan, who planned the event in the past, said a lot goes into planning the garden party, but both agreed that it is probably the logistics of hosting the party off-site that presents the most challenges.
“You just kind of cross your fingers and ask and hope they say yes,” Mills explained about the process of finding a venue.
“It’s a big undertaking, but when we go in we tell them we’re going to do everything; you don’t have to do anything at all other than, you know, clean the house and all that good stuff. Then, we clean it all up the next day, and it’s like we were never there,” she said.
She said support for the venture comes mostly from community businesses and sponsors. “They’ve been fantastic,” she said. Support is also provided by those who purchase tickets to the event.
Their support for the garden party allows ArtPlace to continue to offer art classes throughout the community, including classes provided to students via scholarship and non-profits.
Tickets are $125 and may be purchased online by visiting the events page at artplacems.com.
Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
