February 29, 2012 Visit To The Maitland Art Center! Andre Smith's Ghost!
"Camilla" 6x6 oil on copper. (Not Finished Yet). I painted this flower on Park Avenue today with my Mom. I may add some gold gilding to the painting. I love to experiment! Update: I did add some 24 kt gold to the painting. I put the finished painting image on my website under painting. I decided to keep this painting to remember the day painting with Mom!
My Mom and I went to my favorite place, the Maitland Art Center. Andre Smith (1880-1959) an architect and artist, created this artist colony in 1937 with a generous donation from Mary Curtis Bok. Many artists such as Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, and Doris Lee stayed at the artist colony. As you can see from this photo Andre Smith created cement reliefs which he then used to decorate the buildings and walkways. Andrea Smith ran his art colony with an iron fist. Artists
claim Andrea Smith might add paint or just reject the work of art created. One sculpturist rowed out to the center of Lake Sybella. He threw his own work into the lake to protest Andrea Smith's rejection. Often artists who didn't pass Smith's approval and were asked to leave the art colony. Five artists were invited at a time to stay, exhibit, and work here.
The Maitland Art Center is haunted. There are many stories of ghosts. William Orr, an art teacher in 1950's at the Maitland Art Center, tells of seeing Andre Smith's Ghost. He went to use the main gallery phone. He claims he saw the ghost of Andre Smith standing near the doorway for five minutes. Andrea's ghost was friendly. William Orr said it was unusual to see Andre Smith standing as Smith lost a leg in WWI. In fact Orr never saw Andrea Smith standing while he was alive. So he thought it was strange to see Andrea Smith standing as a ghost. Andrea Smith was one of eight artists chosen to paint battles during WWI.
Many other people claim to see Andre Smith's ghost. One day I asked a lady who is a resident artist there if she ever saw a ghost. She said she saw Andre Smith sitting on her couch. She wasn't afraid of his ghost.
Andre Smith died on the property in 1959 from heart failure. He did not have any future plans for his art colony. The Florida heat and storms took over the center until a nonprofit organization was established. The nonprofit organization leases the land and buildings for 1$ until 2026. I sure hope after 2026 the Maitland Art Center can remain open to the public. It is a special place to visit and paint.
Many people claim there is a "window to the other side." There are a few creepy areas. This doorway with a bell always gives me the creeps.
Many of my older friends would tell me stories about Maitland Art Center. It was an interesting place to walk around at night on a date. I use to come here often and stroll around with my friends when I was younger at night. I was told in the 1960's and 1970's many people partied and smoked pot in the chapel area. The chapel area was a hippy hangout. Another older friend told me there was an unfortunate incident in the outdoor chapel area. Since this incident they do not allow any entrance at night into the Maitland Art Center.
I have always liked this cat. Since I have visited two years ago the cat's tail is now broken.
My Mom and I had set up to paint in the chapel area for a half an hour but had to leave. They needed to blow leaves away for a wedding later.
So we went over to the Park Avenue rose garden. We had a lovely day painting.
Here is my Mom, Catherine Bottelman, painting next to me today. She came back with three really nice watercolors. She said she really had fun painting outside with me. I hope you enjoyed the tour and history of the Maitland Art Center. It is an interesting place to visit. Have a great day!
Duke with boots.
Duke at 6 weeks old.
Duke a year old really preferred to wear this hot pink visor with glasses at the beach. Without the hat and sunglasses Duke's eyes would water. He would hide his head under my beach chair trying to get away from the sunlight.
