WEST BURLINGTON — Beauty in the gardens will combine with open-air creations from area artists this weekend at a special fundraiser for Homestead 1839. Guests will be able to walk in the garden, buy some art, and learn how to paint at Art in the Garden Party on Saturday at the homestead, 701 W. Agency Road, West Burlington — a small, non-profit farm surrounded by city.
Fourteen artists have signed up to paint “en plain air” (outdoors) and Jessi Tucci from Art Center of Burlington will demonstrate sculpting with clay. She and the other artists will contribute their pieces to an auction that will cap off the event, with proceeds benefiting Homestead 1839. This is the first such fundraiser, and organizers are pretty excited about it.
“I think the thing that is particularly cool about this event is combining two worlds — the world of art and the world of gardening, both of which are dear to me and to many of my friends and family members. It's also cool because I don't think anyone around here has done anything like this before, and because it builds community — artists, Master Gardeners, organic gardeners, and more,” said Sandy Krell-Andre. The art and garden party came about as m.
any events do — a conversation turned into a plan. “I had been taking painting classes and private lessons with Jeri Sparks for several months. One time we got talking about plein air painting.
When I heard what it was, I said, ‘You should teach a plein air class at The Homestead in the cut flower garden.’ We got to joking around about having a garden party, complete with fancy hats, etc. Then we got serious,” said Krell-Andre.
The Homestead 1839 is a heritage family Farm that grows produce organically, half of which they donate to local food banks. The other half is sold at (Jefferson Street) farmers market to help defray costs. The non-profit also offer educational opportunities so others can learn about growing produce organically and they offer meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Krell-Andre maintains the cut flower garden, the bouquets from which are sold at the farmers market. "We don't feel people should have to make a lot of money to access organically-grown, local produce,” says its website. Homestead relies on volunteers and donations, as well as partnerships with master gardeners from the Iowa State Extension Office, for much of its operations, and holds fundraisers throughout the year.
The land was the homestead of the Leffler family, ancestors of Mollie Krell, who owns and operates Homestead 1839 with her husband, Tobin. “Jeri said she'd donate part of the fee to The Homestead. That led to the idea of having professional artists who often enter plein air contests come to paint and auction off their paintings,” said Krell-Andre.
“We took our ideas to Tobin and Mollie and they were excited about it,” she said. “Then we went to Elizabeth Pappas at the Arit Center of Burlington and she also got excited because the ACB is all about building community and taking art to the community.” “One of the ideas that came from that brainstorming was the idea of having music because what's a party without music? And it continued growing from there, adding family elements and children's activities,” she added.
“Jeri Sparks will be coordinating the art side of things; Tobin and Mollie will coordinate the garden side.” The weather appears poised to cooperate — a forecast from the National Weather Service on Tuesday was calling for Saturday to be clear and sunny, with a high near 75 degrees. The day's schedule: 8-11 a.
m. Beginners’ Plein Air Class taught by Jeri Sparks and Music by Daniel Pappas; 8 a.m.
-2 p.m. Plein air painting by local artists; 9-11 a.
m. Garden tours guided by Tobin and Mollie Krell (open house) and Children’s art classes taught by Karla Mundt; 3-4 p.m.
Plein air art auction with Craig Fleece as auctioneer. To learn more about Homestead 1839, its programs or how to donate, visit ..
