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Thomasville's Only Issue No.
February 17 - March 2 VOLUME 6
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The Wall Street Journal explores Open Season in the ‘Quail Belt’ Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal featured our small town in a big way - on the front page of their “Mansion” section, none the less. The article, “Fragile hunting grounds in the Southeast’s ‘Quail Belt’” came across our desks and we wanted to know more, so we sat down with one of the article’s main interviewees, Ben McCollum, the founder and owner of The Wright Group here in Thomasville.
interviewed and Tall Timbers really helped convey strong stewardship principles that are crucial to the preservation of this unique landscape. And we back that up from a selling stand point - we don’t want these properties to go to just anyone. We work hard to identify conservation minded buyers who not only invest in the property but also in the Thomasville community.
Townie: First of all, congratulations! The Wall Street Journal - that is quite a fete!
BM: These sporting plantations are a vital part of our heritage and history and have played a significant role in shaping our town into what it is today. As properties change hands, it is vitally important that the new owners take the baton and carry it forward, embracing and supporting everything from our downtown, our numerous cultural activities, to our healthcare system. Their continued commitment to our community, along with their stewardship of the land, not only serve to protect their investment and this ecosystem, but impacts and benefits every citizen.
BM: Thank you! It is one of those things that is very exciting, but also kind of bittersweet. On one hand, you have an “above the fold” feature on your hometown - and business! - and then on the other, a sense of protection swells up as we view it as our mission to be guardians and stewards of these properties. Townie: Can you elaborate on that? BM: Thomasville is a complex town to explain to an outsider and these beautiful sporting plantations are part of that messaging. I do think the WSJ got the conservation aspect right - the property owners
Townie: What would your hopes be for a new buyer?
To check out The Wright Group’s listings, head to their new website at wrightbroker.com or follow them on Instagram: @thewrightgroup
Antiques Show’s Pop-Up Shops to Offer Unique, Exotic Wares The 28th Annual Thomasville Antiques Show will offer something new for longtime attendees and for new visitors alike: pop-up shop dealers with international reputations will be selling their wares at price points that satisfy all pocketbooks.
popular Lindroth Island Bags, baskets, and other pieces. Foster, who was recently lauded by House Beautiful as one of the 20th Century’s most influential interior designers, will offer her bedding, home fragrance and other unique gifts.
Show co-chairs Dorothy and Mark Cobb said that in addition to the antiques dealers in the main showroom, a tent outside will house several hand-selected dealers that bring unique and exotic items to Thomasville. The shops will, indeed, “bring some oomph to the show,” Dorothy said.
Also on the roster is Pamela Tidwell of Vieuxtemps Porcelain. An artist based in Greenville, Ga., Tidwell recreates Meissen and Chinese white porcelain by hand and has been featured in Southern Accents magazine.
The Antiques Show has two missions, Mark added. “One is to educate and promote arts in Thomasville and Thomas County. Our second mission is to provide funding to children’s charities,” he said. “We think the pop-up shops meet both of those goals.” Price points at the shops will be lower, Dorothy continued, which she hopes will also be a draw. “Visitors will be able to feel that they’re walking away with something new to contribute to their homes,” she said, “even if it’s not an 18th century sideboard — whether it’s just a fun set of notecards to put on your desk, or some beautiful trays or pitchers.” Dealers hail from as far away as Palm Beach, Virginia, and beyond. Palm Beach-based interior designers Amanda Lindroth and Leta Austin Foster are set to bring items from their boutiques. Lindroth, one of the Show’s featured speakers this year, will showcase her
The Cobbs said one of their guidelines in selecting these dealers was that nobody could sell a product that competed with any other Thomasville business or dealer at the Antiques Show. Tidwell, he said, fits that description well. “She has such an unusual product, and she doesn’t retail her product at all, so you can kind of only find her in a pop-up type setting,” Mark said. “Nobody else in the world probably does what she does,” Dorothy added. The pop-up shop tent will open on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Show’s preview party and will remain open through that Sunday, Feb. 26, during show hours. At the end of the day, Mark said he hopes the new shops will draw a larger audience. “[They’re] about helping people understand how you can combine design and antiques. [They’re] about helping us by enlarging our group, raising more money, and bringing something new and different to the community as a whole,” he said.
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Thomasville's Only
February 17 - March 2 VOLUME 6
Brown Furniture – the Hottest Trend in Interior Design {Again}! Astonishing as it would have been 50 years ago, the antiques collected over the last few decades have floated on a sea of ever changing taste. How this has happened and what it means today is a fascinating story, for once again the tide is turning. After more than a decade, "brown furniture" is once again the cornerstone of good taste. As is so often the case, the trend setting designers and shelter magazines are leading the charge back to this classic, timeless look, but this time with a new twist, blending traditional “brown” Georgian furniture with Mid Century Modern {the trend that is flowing back out} and much more, In design speak, "brown furniture" is furniture in natural wood tones, not painted or gilded or limed or white washed or lacquered. The vast majority of worldwide furniture is by this definition "brown." The term as used by designers and decorators is lovingly irreverent.
CHUMS Ron Morris Thomasville native and lifetime resident, Ron Morris, serves it up straight. He is a true treasure house of information: from natural cures to self defense. His level of authenticity in Kenpo is hard to find. Taught by the founder, Nakamaura himself, you will find his skill and his mindset are not watered down. How long have you lived in Thomasville? Pretty much all my life. I grew up here. I went to school here. I left for the Marine Corps from here. I ended up back here. You have had some success with natural cures and medicine, what is your favorite? I would say oil pulling. I also use a lot of turmeric. It's important to use whole food supplements and know your source. If you're going to take vitamins, make sure they are something your body can break down and use. Organic really does make a difference. What makes organic different? Organic foods and medicines are not tainted with chemical practices. It's the way things used to be grown. It's silly that healthy food needs to be labeled. The stuff with chemicals should be labeled. Small towns are known for how fast news travels. Has that changed much over the years? I don't think so, unless it travels faster. People used to rely on the newspaper more. Now it's all at their fingertips.
CHUMS
What's the best "news" or rumor you've heard about yourself ? That I won a woman and a medal in a competition in Okinawa, Japan. I still have the medal {smiling}, I don't know what happened to the woman, though.
For centuries, two factors have dominated household taste and style: architectural trends and lifestyle trends.
What do you think makes Thomasville different now?
This began with baroque architecture and design in the 17th century {heavy, balanced, symmetrical}, then moving to the rococo {delicate and asymmetrical} and neoclassical {symmetry dominated by delicate repetitive motifs} designs of the 18th century, and on to the classical designs {heavy symmetrical and rather unadorned –more “modern”}.
Drugs exist that didn't before. We have to lock our doors at night. It is especially different at night.
This era of “Empire” and “Biedermeier” became the influence for Art Deco, which led to Art Moderne, Modernism, and finally to Mid Century Modern. None of these trends happened in a vacuum; each built on or was a reaction to, the previous periods and all were influenced by “signs of the times.” Prior to the Baroque period, stylistic changes were evolutionary and almost imperceptible. The major cause of all of this rapid change was the burgeoning of both the aristocracy and more importantly the middle class, thousands of families demanding the elegance and stylish comfort once enjoyed only by royalty. These changes were fanned by the vast expansion of printed materials, especially design books such as Chippendale’s The Gentleman & Cabinetmaker’s Director. — David and Elizabeth Lindquist
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Has it changed your mindset? No, I don't think so. I have always been prepared and my mindset is part of who I am. A lot of people call you "Karate Ron." What makes Karate Ron different from a chain establishment? I teach save your life self defense for when losing is not an option. Truthfully, I teach hand to hand combat. It is not a sport. I teach people how to be safe on the street. Even our children's class is full contact. What is the best part of teaching women and children to stand up against bullies and predators? Giving them self confidence. I love it the most when they realize they CAN stand up for themselves. They can survive. What do you think makes Thomasville a safe place to live? I don't think any town is safe anymore. I would say only because Thomasville is smaller it seems safe, but bad things do happen here. They happen everywhere. What is one piece of advice you would give to young people growing up in the world today? Stay aware. Stay alert. Stay mentally tough. Never, ever, assume. Always be prepared. Always expect the unexpected. Always: Think! Think! Think! Remember, the enemy has no rules.
— Cherie L.