36th Annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn Draws Record Number of Artists

 

Media release:

A record number of more than 90 artists have been selected for the 36th Annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn to be held in Cartersville Sept. 17-18. "In our 36th year, we have added three new rows of artists filling the three-acre property to capacity for the Arts Festival at Rose Lawn," said Rose Lawn Executive Director Jane Drew. The show takes place Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. on the spacious lawn of historic Rose Lawn, the home of evangelist Sam Jones. Admission is free.

"Pottery is a real showcase at our festival with 14 potters displaying in the event, yet the diversity of this medium makes each display unique," said Drew.  While the Arts Festival at Rose Lawn is well-known for its potters, there are many jewelry artisans, wood crafters painters, photographers, glass, fabric creations and more to be enjoyed.  Artists from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have been chosen to exhibit in the show.

More than 35 juried artists will compete for $1,000 in prizes at Rose Lawn.  The Best of Show award along with first, second and third place winners in both Fine Arts and Heritage Crafts will be presented on stage Saturday at 1 p.m.  The awards ceremony will also feature the Hospitality Heroes Awards and the prestigious People's Choice Awards for Best Restaurant, Best Shoppe, and Best Attraction, presented by festival sponsor Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Throughout the two-day festival local performing arts groups will showcase their talent on stage.  Kerry's School of Dance will open the festival with a performance at 10 a.m. on Saturday.  Additional Saturday performers include Cartersville Gymnastics, Steps of Faith, Cartersville City Ballet, Spirit of the Dance, North Rome Church of God Singers, and Soloists Carmen Jordan and Terry Jordan.  Penn Lester and The Dixie Hot Shots will close the day with a Bluegrass concert from 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Sunday performances begin at 12:30 p.m. with Stephanie Culver & Praise Team. Rick McKee of Cosmic Possum Music will perform at 1:30 p.m. Randall Mullinax, whose acoustic performances have included Eddie's Attic in Decatur and Cartersville's City Cellar and Loft, will take the stage at 2:30 p.m.   Cartersville's own 3B&JG band will return for the second year to close out the event with music at 3:30 p.m.

In addition to fine arts and crafts, visitors may enjoy Victorian House Museum Tours ($4 per person) where they will be introduced to the life and times of Rev. Sam Jones, a fiery Methodist evangelist noted by Wikipedia as "one of the most celebrated revivalists of his day, at the close of the 19^th century." Jones is credited with having great influence on Will Rogers and Tom Ryman, the latter of which constructed the Union Gospel Tabernacle, better known as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, so that Jones would have a fitting place to hold revival meetings.   Tourists will also discover Jones' connection to Rebecca Latimer Felton, a Cartersville resident who was the first female to be seated in the U.S. Senate. 

Children will enjoy special programs by the Bartow History Museum in the Rose Lawn Schoolhouse.  The schoolhouse served as Rev. Jones' study and was also where the seven Jones children were educated.  During the festival costumed docents will introduce children to toys and games from long ago and will have hands-on craft activities.  Other popular features include the annual Master Gardener's Plant Sale and AAUW Book Sale.  As always, there will be a variety of foods for sale from seven select vendors on both days.

Rose Lawn is located at 224 West Cherokee Avenue in downtown Cartersville and is sponsored by Bartow County Government and Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Hilton Garden Inn Cartersville will serve as the event Host Hotel.  For reservations call 770-382-9787 and mention the Arts Festival at Rose Lawn.

CONTACTS FOR QUOTES:

Juried Artist – Eva Marie Burns, Cartersville – Mixed Media Paintings 678-230-4422

Juried Artist – Ronnie Payne, Emerson – Pottery 770-386-8987

Non-juried artist – Rachel Lietch, Dallas – Paintings 678-758-6084

Artist new to Rose Lawn – Faye Smith Westphal, Statesboro – Vintage Santas 912-871-3903

Artist new to Rose Lawn – Alan Young, Jasper – Paintings 706-299-0820   alanryoung.com 

Performer – Rick McKee 770-606-7311

Performer – Brian Shultz 404-578-3420