Press Releases ~ 2013

Media Contact ~ Judy Turner ~ Publicity Committee Chair

review 2012 Press Releases

Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall, Central Kentucky’s newest art fair, is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, August 31 and September 1, 2013. It will again be located in the gardens and lawns of Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House, two of Frankfort’s famous historic homes. The four-acre space is situated on one leg of the big bend in the Kentucky River and is beautiful, just as it is, with trimmed grass walkways, old boxwood-shrub borders, and three generations of aged catalpa trees. For Art in the Gardens it will be transformed into an outdoor art gallery.

This year there will be new artists participating and many from last year’s fair returning. A high standard for the quality of participants was set in 2012. Carol Baughman, Steering Committee Chairperson, said of last year’s artists, “We are proud to introduce artists who have become our partners in establishing a standard for this fair for years to come.” Baughman also explains, “We will limit the number of booths to sixty so that visitors will have enough room to enjoy the garden as well as the art.”

The planners of Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall want to appeal to a broad spectrum of people and have selected the best from several types of art using a jury process. The show boasts painters, jewelers, wood workers, photographers, potters, sculptors, to mention only a few. There will be paintings in oil, water color, and pastel; furniture; scarves; hats; hand-pressed wild flower greeting cards, scrimshaw, as well as fanciful animals and people created for pure fun from the imaginations of the artists. A “whimsical” rooster made mostly of knitted yarn, a teddy bear made from recycled materials, or a shepherd and his sheep born out of the very wool from the artist’s sheep will be available.

For further pleasures of attendees live music will be provided throughout the weekend. In an area set aside for resting and listening, musicians from the region will perform on stage for no extra charge. In 2013 several groups will be on hand for toe-tapping, humming-along, or just listening entertainment. Visitors will be able to fill their souls with nature, art, and music and their stomachs with great food. Mini-restaurants are planning to set up temporary kitchens in the back yard of the beautiful Orlando Brown House. One can plan to have lunch or a snack before or after meandering through the art-filled gardens.

Children, last year, were encouraged to ignite their creative abilities at supervised art activities provided just for them. Again this year they will be taught in classes scheduled throughout the weekend. These classes may be attended by some adventurous adults as well. Age limits are expected to be fluid. Additionally, Josephine Sculpture Park will have an art workshop for fairgoers.

History lovers will enjoy the two houses on site: Liberty Hall a National Historic Landmark and the 1796 home of John Brown, Kentucky’s first senator, and the adjacent Orlando Brown House, home of Senator Brown’s second son, designed by Gideon Shyrock in 1835. Admission to the fair includes admission to both houses.

The show has been carefully planned with much attention to detail. The steering committee has been working diligently to assure another successful year. The steering committee is made up of Carol Baughman, Steering Committee Chair and nine committee chairpersons. They are Vickie Sewell, Artist Committee; Jim Pierce, Music Committee; Judy Turner, Publicity; Elaine Johnson, Volunteer Committee; Nancy Atcher and Melanie VanHouten, Jury Committee;  Jules Foster, Director, Liberty Hall Historic Site; Joy Jeffries, Director, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist and Convention Commission; Twina Keeton, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist and Convention Commission; and Brittain Skinner, Director, Downtown Frankfort, Inc.

The art show provides an opportunity for many local people to be involved in this community event. Volunteers will be again asked to assist artists and visitors during the two-day event. One artist who will be returning commented, “Volunteers were awesome! I feel like I could have come alone because there was so much good help.” Last year there were over 150 volunteers.

Frankfort’s second annual Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall is well on its way to surpass last year’s first edition.  The new web site, artinthegardensatlibertyhall.org, was launched in early May. Volunteer sign ups and fundraising information will be available there in early June. To preview some of the art go to the web site or the Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall Facebook page. People who like what they see will not be disappointed when they come to the fair on Labor Day weekend 2013. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $3 per person (free for children 12 and under) which includes admission to both historic houses.

Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall, Central Kentucky’s newest art fair, will be hosted for the second straight year by the Liberty Hall Historic Site in its lush, four-acre garden on the Kentucky River in downtown Frankfort on Labor Day weekend, August 31 and September 1, 2013.

The fair will feature paintings, sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, photography, pottery and other works of art from over fifty of the region’s finest artists and craftspeople.  Children’s art activities, live music, and tours of Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House will also be available for visitors.

The hours for the fair are 9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults (free for children 12 and under).

Small is Beautiful at First Frankfort Fair

Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall on Labor Day weekend in 2012 was an intimate event that pleased exhibitors and visitors. It featured some of the region’s finest artists and crafts people who were invited to exhibit in the inaugural event. They displayed their paintings, sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, photography, pottery, and other works of art in white tents scattered on the river bank and among trees and flowers. One exhibitor commented that the fair was like a leisurely walk in a garden that just happened to have an art show.

The fair’s size and setting made it easy for visitors to meet the artists, to closely examine their exhibits, and to purchase the best and most creative artwork in the region. Many artists reported strong sales. Two artists received special recognition. Photographer John Snell was chosen by fairgoers to win the People’s Choice Award for the best booth in the fair. Debbie Graviss’s fellow exhibitors chose her to receive the Exhibitor’s Award.

Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House, two National Register museum houses, were open to the public and very popular with visitors. In fact, by noon on the first day of Art in the Gardens 500 people had explored Liberty Hall.

Adding to the atmosphere of the fair was live music staged on the back porch at the Orlando Brown House. People gathered on the patio to listen and sing along. Mink Run Consort, Mitch Barrett and Honey and Houston were crowd favorites.

Some visitors got personally involved in the creative process. At one booth Josephine Sculpture Park led a workshop to prepare sand molds for a hot metal pour. At another, children painted wood blocks which would be assembled into a tall sculpture. Both of these activities were completed at the Fall Festival at Josephine Sculpture Park two weeks after the fair.

By any standard, Art in the Gardens at Liberty Hall was a huge success for those who attended, for volunteers, and the artists.

Feedback from visitors was positive. Everyone praised the quality of the art, and many commented on the beauty of the grounds and the size of the show.  Artist David Shadwick had this to say, “My sales set a record for a weekend show. It is a good example that a show doesn’t have to be large to be successful for the artists. This team got it right for size, quality and setting.”