A Celebration of Art and Community at Greenwood Little Theatre’s Gala
On Tuesday, January 21, local artists and supporters gathered at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta for the Celebration of the Arts Gala, an event dedicated to celebrating creativity and raising funds for Greenwood Little Theatre. The gala featured 17 stunning Chinese porcelain sculptures, each uniquely painted by local artists, offering a vibrant showcase of community talent.
Delicious spread at the Celebration of the Arts Gala
A Night of Art and Auction
Guests had the opportunity to vote for their favorite designs while strolling through the event’s garden exhibit, which was beautifully decorated by the Greenwood Garden Club in collaboration with the Delta Garden Club. Pam Powers, past president of Greenwood Little Theatre and chairperson of the event, emphasized the importance of such a celebration, saying:
“We want to highlight the arts, because not a lot of times do we have a place where you can really see all of these different artists that we have.”
A live auction was held for the top five most popular statues, with City Attorney Don Brock Jr. leading the proceedings. Other statues were available through a silent auction.
The sculptures were based on the “Porcelain Princess,” a sculptural relief from the famous Porcelain Room at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in Spain. The participating artists brought their own unique styles and approaches to the project, leading to some truly eye-catching pieces.
Shawn Hodges stands next to her statue and one of her paintings as she speaks during the Celebration of the Arts Gala.
Artist Experiences
One of the participating artists, Shawn Hodges, shared her experience of painting the statue, noting that it was a bit of a challenge for her:
“I paint on canvas, so I don’t paint pottery or anything, so it was a challenge to actually try and paint the statue.”
Similarly, Yolande van Heerden, who specializes in fiber art, found the process to be quite unusual:
“It’s a very strange thing to paint, and it’s just very odd, but I kind of felt that I wanted to do it in my style.”
Selena Nause, another local artist, took a different approach by using pink wrapping paper she had found at home, creating a pink-and-gold themed statue. She said:
“It’s fun to get to see my fellow artists in one setting and see their work and visit with them. This social event has been really fun.”
Selena Nause stands next to her statue at the Celebration of the Arts Gala.
A Successful Fundraiser
Through the live and silent auctions, Greenwood Little Theatre raised approximately $3,000, with eight of the 17 statues being sold. The top five voted sculptures were painted by Shawn Hodges, Alice Barth, Judy Nail, Melanie Bowman, and Mary Ellen Winborn.
Future Plans for the Sculptures
Looking ahead, Powers mentioned that the theater plans to discuss potential plans for the sold and unsold statues at the upcoming Greenwood Little Theatre committee meeting.
“We can have a temporary public exhibit with a QR-coded map to let tourists and local people visit these statues in different places in the community,” Powers explained.
Pam Powers hands a trophy to Dr. John F. Lucas as a token of appreciation at the Celebration of the Arts Gala.
Honoring Community Champions
The event also recognized key contributors to the success of Greenwood Little Theatre, with awards given out by Powers and Michael Haddon, the current president of the theater. The honorees, referred to as “GLT Champions,” included:
Dr. John F. Lucas III
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams and the City Council
State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol
Walker Sturdivant
Glenn Nail
Jeanne Gewalt
Alicia Dallas
Jack Kyle
Dr. Lucas, a longtime supporter of the theater, shared his admiration for the organization:
“I love the theater. I have no acting talent, so I have to contribute in other ways — encouraging people to come, making sure the sound system is good, helping out on stage when I can. But it’s a great organization, and everybody should be patrons of it.”
Senator Lydia Chassaniol and Sally Jane Muirhead at the Celebration of the Arts Gala.
A Resounding Success
This year's Celebration of the Arts Gala was a resounding success, raising vital funds for the continued success and growth of Greenwood Little Theatre. The event ensured that this valuable community arts organization will continue to thrive for years to come.