Early morning visitors to the gardens at Clarkesville’s Mauldin house have been doing a double take. A new sculpture of Tasha Tudor by Clarkesville artist Cecile Metivier adorns the garden. Metivier created the life-like sculpture out of fabric, paper mache’ and fiber over chicken wire to replace the former scarecrows, Daisy and Violet. Tasha Tudor, 1915-2008, was a much beloved illustrator of Children’s books who won a Caldecott for her work on “Mother Goose.” According to her family, Tudor loved to spend time in her extensive garden and drew inspiration from the natural world.
Metivier is an artist whose work can be found at the Soque ArtWorks Gallery in Clarkesville as well as her website, www.happilyadorned.com. She entered the Agriculture and Landscape Design program at North Georgia Technical College to “learn something new.” As part of her program, Metivier is doing an independant study with Charle’ Statler, head of Clarkesville’s Gardens and Grounds. Metivier met Charle’ a number of years ago when she and her Mother moved to Clarkesville to be closer to her youngest sister and her husband. Falling in love with the area and its beauty, Metivier is happy for the inspiration to infuse her art and her studies.
The Mauldin house gardens are in full spring bloom. Take a moment to go visit Ms. Tudor and the gardens. The Mauldin House can be found beside the Clarkesville Library and is home to not only the Gardens but also the Clarkesville Better Hometown offices.
