The third Art & Soul Garden Party is a good time for a great cause, says Sarah Iwanski, executive director of ArtPlace Mississippi.
Featuring an evening of art, food and music, the Garden Party serves as a fundraiser for the Greenwood nonprofit, which has a mission to “create access to the arts for everyone in Leflore County.”
“This really helps us to provide art programming throughout the community and allows us to continue to work toward our mission,” said Iwanski.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Simcox on Grand Boulevard.
The Garden Party will include food stations featuring signature dishes from award-winning Delta chefs. There will be a bourbon tasting, an open bar, art demonstrations and both live and silent auctions.
Food stations will include Cole Ellis of Delta Meat Market, the Malouf family (Holli Malouf, Stella Britt and August Malouf), the Cox Brothers (Caleb and Ben Cox), Erin Mulligan, Loren Leflore, Francisca from San Miguel Arcangel Tienda Mexicana, and Two Brooks Rice Farm.
“They will provide a selection of some of their specialties,” said Iwanski.
Chef Taylor Bowen Ricketts of Fan and Johnny’s will be catering the event inside the Simcox home.
Live music will be performed by Alphonso Sanders and Ben Arnold.
Greenwood artist Angie Cole, known for her depictions of Mississippi Delta living and landscapes, will live paint the event throughout the evening. The finished product will be for sale during the live auction.
Art that will also be available during the live auction will be by artists Lee Clark Malouf, Langdon Clay, Whit Meek, Pryor Lampton, Chet Oguz, Brandon Moon, Maude Schuyler Clay, Hayden Hall and Tommy Goodman.
“We’ll have 11 really excellent pieces of art that will be auctioned off,” said Iwanski.
The Garden Party is the larger one of two fundraisers — the other is Art in the Alley held in the spring — for ArtPlace held throughout the year.
Iwanski said the proceeds from both events go toward making ArtPlace’s programming possible, and many of the classes are offered free of charge or through scholarships.
Currently, ArtPlace has a wide variety of programming, including its sewing project for grades 7-12, a youth sewing class for age 6-8, an after-school art class on Tuesdays, a yoga art and nature class and LEAP (Leflore Early Artist Project), which is a program designed to create access to the arts for children ages 1-5 in Leflore County.
“I think (the Garden Party) is going to be really fun,” said Iwanski. “I think everybody’s going to have a great time. The art that we have is really top-notch. The artists who have donated pieces for both the live and silent auctions have been incredibly generous.”
Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at artplacems.com/gardenparty; at ArtPlace, 212 W. Washington St.; or at the door on the day of the event.
A sponsors’ preview will also be held from 6 until 7 p.m.
•Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
What: Art & Soul Garden Party
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Simcox on Grand Boulevard
Details: The event is a fundraiser for ArtPlace Mississippi. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at artplacems.com/gardenparty; at ArtPlace, 212 W. Washington St., or at the door on the day of the event.
