Paint the Park---The “Art of Making Art” the fun way

Micro-masterpieces with the swipe of a brush

Brookhaven, GA, Sept. 28, 2018 - Creativity and imagination were in full bloom Sunday, Sept. 23, at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road, as mini-Picassos and aspiring Rembrandts turned out by the dozens to produce enough art to fill a gallery. Ushering in the first day of fall, nearly 120 youngsters and adults gathered for the 4th Annual Paint the Park, sponsored by the City of Brookhaven.

It was a hot afternoon, but participants were powered by an endless flow of ice water and popsicles. Regardless of age, everyone from toddlers to adults gathered at long tables, sprawled under trees, sat on park benches and straddled stone walls seeking just the “right place” to paint their masterpieces. Hosted by Councilmember Linley Jones, the young artisans were vying for an assortment of art supply prizes and the opportunity to be featured on the 2018 City holiday greeting card and in an upcoming 2019 City calendar.

“The turnout for Paint the Park, one of my favorite City of Brookhaven events, clearly demonstrates our community’s interest in art and showcases our City’s artistic talent,” noted Councilmember Jones. “It gets bigger and better each year. We were also happy to have large detailed park posters on hand so people could see the planned improvements for many of our City parks, based on the Master Plans.”

Jones continued, “In Brookhaven, all of our parks offer residents fun opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. From picnicking in Blackburn Park to hiking around Murphey Candler lake to playing basketball at Lynwood Rec Center or attending the variety of art and food festivals or food trucks, there is always something fun and exciting to do!”

After nearly two hours, a host of drawings featuring everything from landscapes to multi-hued trees and crashing waves proved to be a tough assignment for the four volunteer judges. On hand to determine the winners were Elizabeth Peterson, museum director at Oglethorpe University and formerly associated with New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA); Ida Beth Barner, local Brookhaven artist and Board Member for the Brookhaven Arts Festival; Erin Warner, an art teacher at Montgomery Elementary School and instructor at Spruill Center for the Arts; and Kelly Mauldin, who’s taught art at the Art Institute of Atlanta and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and is currently on the faculty at Belhaven University.

Taking top honors were:

Child (ages 8 and under: 1st Place—Halle Beak; 2nd Place—Elsie Broome; 3rd Place—Abigail Carden

Youth (ages 8 and up): 1st Place—Nikita Kunie; 2nd Place—Maya Sharma; 3rd Place—Camille Thorp

Adult: 1st Place—Rebecca Ganz; 2nd Place—Anne Stanford; 3rd Place—Anubhooh Kabra

The two winners for the City holiday card competition were Kaylee Powell and Emily Mujica

Throughout the competition, finished paintings were hung alongside Ashford Dunwoody Road for those passing by to admire.

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