For his final major painting before retiring, famed history artist Mort Künstler selected a fairly obscure Civil War event that occurred 150 years ago in LaGrange.
And, in the town a little more than an hour southwest of downtown Atlanta, the Troup County Historical Society will celebrate both the artist and the subject of his painting, the all-female Nancy Hart Militia, with a benefit event on Friday, April 17.
Guest of honor Künstler, a resident of Oyster Bay, N.Y., will unveil the painting, “LaGrange vs. LaGrange,” and sign canvas-printed reproductions.
The tribute marks the 150th anniversary of the day when the arms-toting Nancy Harts marched to the edge of town to meet invading Union troops, led by the ironically named Wisconsin Cavalry commander Col. Oscar LaGrange. The face-off occurred about a week after the Appomattox surrender, but before word had traveled to the town. LaGrange pledged that if the women would put down their guns, he would not burn their houses.
“The Nancy Harts story is unique not just to LaGrange, but also to the United States,” Troup County Historical Society President Jake Jones said. “ The charming town we enjoy today would not be the same if not for the bravery of these women.”
Festivities beginning at 6 p.m. Friday will include a reception at Legacy Museum on Main, before the gathering moves across Main Street to Del’avant for dinner, the Künstler painting unveiling and a sneak preview from a forthcoming PBS documentary on the Nancy Harts. Tickets, $50.
Legacy Museum on Main is showing the exhibition “Recalling the End: The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War,” including reproductions of Künstler’s Civil War paintings, a Confederate uniform, photographs of the Nancy Harts and soldiers from west Georgia, historic maps and soldier letters home.
Künstler, who is 87 and has painted for more than six decades, also will sign copies of his painting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the museum.
“I always thought I’d like to die at the easel, but I don’t want to do bad work,” he recently told the Civil War News. “And although I’m really doing a good painting – I think this new one is one of the best I’ve ever done – I would like to quit at a high note.”
Benefiting Troup County Historical Society projects, the event is co-sponsored by Cartersville's Booth Western Art Museum. Information: 706-884-1828, www.trouparchives.org.
MUSIC
Madison Chamber Music Festival tunes up
Madison is readying for the 2015 Chamber Music Festival, May 1 through June 14.
As usual, the 13th edition lineup planned by artistic director Christopher Rex, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal cellist, is broader than the festival name indicates. The slate includes the Eroica Trio, the bluegrass trio the Kruger Brothers, pianist Daria Rabotkina, the Dover Quartet and the Entre Flamenco Dance Company.
The festival opens with a 7:30 p.m. May 1 concert in the historic Madison-Morgan Cultural Center auditorium by Canadian Brass member Brandon Ridenour and his father, pianist Rich Ridenour.
Tickets are $25 ($5 students) for most performances. "An American Salute" concert by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet at 3 p.m. May 17 in Madison Town Park is free, as is a Entre Flamenco family concert at 11 a.m. June 13 at the cultural center, 434 S. Main St. 1-877-233-0598, www.mmcc-arts.org.
West End jamming on April 19
As a precursor to the Atlanta Jazz Festival, May 22-24 in Piedmont Park, saxophonist Kebbi Williams will present the 5th annual Music in the Park event 2 to 8 pm April 19 in Atlanta's historic West End community.
Featured performers among the 30 bands performing on eight stages along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, a stretch closed to vehicular traffic during the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's concurrent Atlanta Streets Alive event, will include Russell Gunn, Julie Dexter, Joe Gransden, Frank Barham and Brazilian Sounds, Eric McFadden, 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, Rahbi and Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective.
Closing out the day of music and pedestrian-friendliness, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson will conduct a 50-piece orchestra, including Atlanta Public Schools students and professional musicians, in a concert mixing jazz and classical music with funk and blues. It’s 6-8 p.m. at the Wrens Nest, 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W., Atlanta.
Free. www.musicintheparkatl.org.
VISUAL ART
Alpharetta gallery bringing Asheville art
Many Atlantans sojourn yearly to Asheville to check out the Western North Carolina city’s bountiful art and crafts offerings.
Now metro residents can find a new outlet featuring Asheville arts on a regular basis here. Wild Hope Art Gallery plans to represent more than two dozen artists and craftspeople from that city’s River Arts District.
The Alpharetta gallery is opening “The Asheville Connection,” the first in a series of periodic exhibits, with a public reception 4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 19. The gathering provides the chance to meet participating artists Victoria Pinney, Mark Bettis, Karen Weihs, Phillip DeAngelo and Matt Tommey.
An open house for interior designers will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18.
Through May 30. 8470 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 120, Alpharetta. 678-580-0493, www.wildhopeartgallery.com.
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