art treatise
visions of the azalea festival
“That this beauty may enrich the lives of all” By Christine R. Gonzalez
JEFF
MORVIL
WILLIAMS THE 40th anniversary of the Azalea Festival in 1987 launched the tradition of honoring an artist who captured the
MARTHA GROVE
essence of the festival. The images selected as the official artwork are as varied as festival lovers themselves.
Dreamy, fuzzy, romantic, joyful, whimsical and thoughtful could describe the works represented here, most with at
least a few azaleas thrown in.
Azaleas are the star, and they are represented in a number of ways. The first image from 1987 by local artist Jeff
Morvil is a single stately bloom. Other works have some azaleas flowing through the air or as a muted element in the background.
There is much swirling romance in the 2009 George Pocheptsov image. The people dancing and enjoying themselves in a garden
paradise is mostly what is recalled, but look closely and you can read the scrolled decree stating that the cultivation of flowers, shrubs
and trees are to beautify the community, “That this beauty may enrich the lives of all.”
Another complex and interesting image by artist Todd Carignan is bare of flowers, but the eye is drawn to the venerable Airlie
Oak during a garden party. Brooke Eagle, the 2022 artist, captures a downtown crowd scene depicting street food, musicians,
assorted trinket vendors, and lots of azaleas in the forefront.
A good selection of prints of the current and past Azalea Festival art can be purchased at the Azalea Festival ticket office.
14 april 2022
WBM