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PEACH BUZZ: Bit of Georgia ornaments nation’s capital
December 10, 2008
Contact: www.ajc.com
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Georgia is gorgeously represented this year on the White House Christmas tree, thanks to Georgia artist Karron Denaple and Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.). The politician invited Denaple to create a one-of-a-kind ornament for first lady Laura Bush’s annual holiday tradition.
There was one small glitch: Denaple had never done an ornament before, preferring to create large colorful wood sculptures.
“It was quite an honor, especially since it was my first try,” Denaple told Buzz on Friday.
She and daughter Jessica Mackert arrived in Washington this week to see the finished product. And it didn’t take the artist long to recognize her work.
“I spotted it as soon as I walked into the room!” she said. “It was right in front, about three feet from the bottom. I was told that nobody else could find theirs. It was just perfect.”
Her Georgia ornament well represents Linder’s District 7, too. Denaple painted a Lady Liberty clutching a Georgia peach, sitting on the Georgia state seal surrounded by an oak tree with a yellow ribbon for Georgia troops overseas and accented with Cherokee roses, the state flower.
"I was going to include the state bird, a brown thrasher, too, but I thought it might be too much,” the artist said. “I decided to keep it light and airy.”
Unfortunately, Denaple and Mackert didn’t get any direct face time with Mrs. Bush, but Denaple did manage to capture a few images of the first lady via her camera phone.
What’s more, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, at Lola Art Gallery & Gift Shop in Roswell, local fans can take a gander at the 12 prototype ornaments Denaple created before painting the final version for the White House.
The real one, you see, isn’t for sale.
Explained Denaple: “I had to sign a waiver saying I wouldn’t mass produce my White House ornament. It’s OK. I have a picture of it.”
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