The Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art glowed like a coal stove against the gray December afternoon. Students and townsfolk drifted in from Demorest’s square, shaking off the cold as the old brick building filled with the smell of pastry and fresh coffee.
The Kingdom of Neep at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art
Tables of pottery, yarn creatures, and hand-drawn prints lined the gallery floor, but the center of gravity was the legendary Jan Walker, who sat at a table with a small stack of her published works, her precious Neep series.
After a brief introduction, Mrs. Walker guided me to a drawing of two hands, one from 1993 and one from this year. A Neep sat in each palm, the small creature she invented almost forty years ago while teaching children to draw. The older hand strained with age, the fingers bent from arthritis. She said she liked that one best because it told the full truth of her life. She has written five books and taught art to generations in this corner of Georgia, and she still laughs with a joy that settles in every line of her face. When she read her book aloud, the room filled with people who had loved her work for years. You could see at once that the pleasure belonged to everyone in the room.
A holiday market of student creators
Students filled the room with items they themselves created. Mackenzie Williams and Cooper Williams set their pieces on a shared table. Cooper studies neuroscience, and Mackenzie studies criminal justice. They make art with an eye for play and a devotion to detail. They said they craft for the simple pleasure of making something with their hands.
Lizzy Eades, a freshman skilled in the art of jewelry production, ran her first-ever booth. She calls her business Crafts by Liz. Looking for a place to begin, she said she chose this market because it felt safe enough to take a risk. Eades sold whimsical earrings of her own design, perfect for a woman who likes to celebrate the season – and her ears.
Nearby, Brianna Barner stitched her embroidery with the laser precision of a scientist. She works her craft under the name BB Embroidery Design and sells attractive, girly pieces that call to my pastel, embroidery-loving heart. She studies forensic science, but that doesn’t stop her from pursuing other interests outside of her field.
Light from the gallery windows fell across the art in soft panes, and the hum of voices rose as the evening passed and the crowd grew and shrank by turns. Shoppers lingered at tables to hear stories behind the work, and many left with small bags that held gifts – no two alike. For my part, I lingered beside Anjel Lee of Farmhouse Provisions, acquiesing ot my initial craving for one of her Pop-Tarts, then descending into a madness of Christmas cookies and apple turnovers.
Rebecca Brantly knows how to draw a crowd
The museum’s halls usually hold the finished work of seasoned artists, but for two evenings, the space is a workshop. A place where young creators test the life of the working artist. Museum director and professor Rebecca Brantley knows how to draw people in. Visitors wander over from Holden Oversoul Kitchen and Oyster Bar with cocktails in hand, lingering at the booths as if the museum were an extension of the restaurant. Many stop to note the welcoming hours and the steady run of new initiatives that have brought fresh energy into the museum this year.
The Holiday Market will open again on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art in downtown Demorest. Shrug on a coat, pick up a Christmas-themed coffee at Farmhouse Coffee or a glass of wine from Holden Oversoul, and take in the downtown decorations before stepping into the museum. There you can browse for unique Christmas gifts, support college students at the start of their careers, and enjoy the museum’s remarkable art.
