Antiques show benefits children’s programs Thomasville Times Enterprise local news

2/1/2016

Antiques show benefits children’s programs - Thomasville Times-Enterprise: Local News

Antiques show benefits children’s programs

By Nadia R. Watts | Posted: Saturday, January 30, 2016 8:05 am THOMASVILLE — Those who attend the 27th annual Thomasville Antiques Show this month will have the chance to behold vintage furniture, jewelry, silver and porcelain – each piece with a story of its own. But what most folks don’t know is that their attendance will make a difference in the lives of area children.

The mission of the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation (TASF) is to raise money for local non­ profit organizations focused on children’s programs.

Only second to that is the goal to create an opportunity for the community to understand and appreciate fine antiques and objects of art.

Community contributor Kathy Vignos said Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation has given away more than $2 million to local children’s programs over the last 26 years.

Kathy Vignos, president of the Board of Directors at TASF, said that over the past 26 years, the foundation has given away more than $2 million to local children’s programs. After overhead and operating expenses, “Seventy­five cents of every dollar goes to these organizations,” she said. The monies collected come from show sponsors, corporate and individual underwriters, ticket sales and featured speakers.

The Antiques Show and Sale brings in a yearly average income of $140,000. “Many of the organizations depend on our annual giving to them. They have it earmarked for programs that they otherwise could not fund,” Vignos said.

And that giving has made a difference. Just last year, • An Open Door Adoption was given the funding to start a foster care adoption program.

• Hands and Hearts for Horses, a therapeutic riding program, received money to upgrade its Sensory Trail and to purchase tack and saddles for use during children’s lessons.

• The Thomasville Community Resource Center accepted the funds to support its after­school program and to partner with the Birdsong Nature Center.

• The South Georgia Ballet was given the funds to support its Outreach Education programs, including Step Up!, weekly dance instruction provided for children in Thomas and Grady Counties. http://www.timesenterprise.com/news/local_news/antiques-show-benefits-children-s-programs/article_0ce5ad14-c752-11e5-a4c3-5facadfb2d55.html?mode=print

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2/1/2016

Antiques show benefits children’s programs - Thomasville Times-Enterprise: Local News

• Thomas University received a donation for its STEMtastic camp, a summer camp for children who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and/or math, but who otherwise would not be able to afford such a program.

The list goes on.

“Our biggest aim is to give as much money as we can to enrich the lives of children in Thomas County and Thomasville,” Vignos said. “We also hope to continue to provide Thomasville with a wonderful experience.”

TASF was established 27 years ago by Marguerite Neel Williams, a tireless philanthropist and a passionate advocate for education and the arts. A woman who loved antiques and historic renovation, Williams had been involved with the successful antiques show in Jacksonville, Florida, and thought a local show would be a good way to raise funds for area children.

“She [also] wanted to instill a love of and appreciation of antiques and works of art – silver, folk art, rugs, furniture, and paintings — to the citizens of Thomasville and the surrounding areas,” Vignos explained.

Originally, the show was held in the Nationaly Guard Armory on Varnedoe Street, “which was not the most hospitable location,” she said. “It was pretty primitive.”

Soon, the show was relocated to the Thomasville Fairgrounds, where it will return for its 27th year on Feb. 25. The venue is transformed yearly into an elegant space, worthy of its visiting antiques dealers and their wares.

Some 30 top­notch antique sellers travel to Thomasville from all around the country.

“We have dealers now that come from Maine, New York, down the Eastern seaboard, Virginia, Florida, Midwest Chicago, New Orleans, Texas, Michigan, Alabama,” Vignos said.

A show manager is in charge of finding these dealers and organizing their booths and rental fees.

In addition, nationally known speakers — often interior decorators and landscape architects — have become a key part of the success of the show. The list includes the likes of the late Wendell Garrett, a longtime editor of Antiques magazine; India Hicks, designer and author; Bill Stahl, vice chairman at Sotheby’s; William Secord, a preeminent dog­painting dealer; Gil Schafer, architect; and Carolyne Roehm, Miles Redd, Tom Scheerer, and Bunny Williams, celebrated interior designers.

Even more impressive is that the speakers often waive their fees or charge a nominal amount for their services.

“We’ve been fortunate to get big­name speakers without having to pay to get them here,” Vignos said. That means more money for the children.” http://www.timesenterprise.com/news/local_news/antiques-show-benefits-children-s-programs/article_0ce5ad14-c752-11e5-a4c3-5facadfb2d55.html?mode=print

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2/1/2016

Antiques show benefits children’s programs - Thomasville Times-Enterprise: Local News

This year’s speakers are British interior designer Nina Campbell, author Rene Silvin, landscape architect Jorge Sanchez, and award­winning florist Hannah Ling.

Decorators who speak at the show emphasize that with their beauty and craftsmanship, antiques always have a place in a new design.

In fact, “most decorators say they like to mix the new with the old,” Vignos said.

“Things go in and out of fashion in life,” she continued. “Right now, everyone wants contemporary art and furniture.” But because antiques are not necessarily the fad or fashion today, their prices are low, compared to that of contemporary furniture. “Furniture from the ’50s, ’60’s, ’70s, which is hot right now, is much more expensive than an 18th­century piece of furniture. That’s the way things are,” Vignos said.

She said she hopes the show will continue to teach an appreciation of fine arts through the years.

“There’s a lot of pride and skilled craftsmanship that goes into creating a piece of art, a beautiful decorative object, or a painting,” she said. “And there’s some fun in it too.”

Unfortunately, many people are intimidated to come to such a show because they think antiques are inaccessible and expensive, Vignos said. But that’s not necessarily so.

“The more you go, and the more you look, the more you learn.”

http://www.timesenterprise.com/news/local_news/antiques-show-benefits-children-s-programs/article_0ce5ad14-c752-11e5-a4c3-5facadfb2d55.html?mode=print

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