By Hannah Nelson
Union University’s Arts in the Park held on Nov. 6, a part of the many homecoming festivities, drew in students, alumni and their families to enjoy activities and art for all ages.
Arts in the Park provided a way for families to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, food and fun activities. There were numerous tents set up, sponsored by different organizations on campus, with activities for families to enjoy such as decorating cookies, face-painting, a petting zoo and dandy jumpers.
All of the activities centered on the art show and sale, including pottery, paintings, drawings, sculptures and much more.
Featured artists included Vicki Babb, who created portraits in oil, charcoal and pencil; Frank Hickman’s wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery; Kelsey J. Roberts, who is a freelance artist; and many others.
Another of the many artists exhibiting work this year was Joyce Lyle, a retired artist for Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. Lyle worked for Hallmark for nearly 30 years and retired in 2006. She and her husband, Tom, developed the company Angel Works Art, located were they reside in Kansas City, Mo.
“I did not learn to sculpt until after (beginning to work for) Hallmark,” Lyle said.
Her hand-crafted ornaments are made in her home. One ornament can take anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks, depending on the design. Angel Works Art exhibited its first line of Sea Shell Santas along with Ribbons of Life pins at Arts in the Park.
Mary Spellings, a local artist, showcased her watercolor and pastel pieces. Spellings is a graduate of Union University and co-founder of Art in the Village, located at Casey Jones Village. She is a member of Tennessee Watercolor Society, the Kentucky Watercolor Society and the Watercolor Society of Alabama.
Spellings said many of her pieces are displayed in an exhibit in downtown Jackson at The Ned, titled “Found 2010.” Several of her award-winning pieces are on display until the end of December. At the Memphis Germantown Art League, her piece titled “Lizard” won best of show and in August, at the MGAL’s Start artist exhibition, “Lobster” won second place. These are just a few of the many awards Spellings has received throughout the past year.
During the Arts in the Park event, Spellings worked on composing a watercolor painting of a rusty, abandoned truck and displayed a couple of watercolor pieces and a pastel portrait of a father and his son.
