Polished silver, plush rugs, antique furniture and fine artwork are about to once again return to the heart of downtown Columbus.
This year, Art ‘N Antiques Show and Sale will be taking over the Elks Lodge Building at 309 Main Street from Thursday to Saturday.
Nancy Carpenter, CEO of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she is excited to put the building to “good use” by displaying the work of jewelry dealers, antique dealers, artists and more.
“It’s exciting that we will be showcasing beautiful rugs, jewelry, silver and other restoration artists, as well as the art dealers that will be there,” Carpenter said. “I think it’s going to be a fun few days and it’s free and open to the public.”
This year, the show is kicking off from 6-8 p.m. Thursday with an open house and reception in honor of Dixie Butler, one of the original founders of the Art ‘N Antiques show 40 years ago.
Carpenter called Butler a “wonderful supporter” of the arts. Butler has donated funds towards a statue of Tennessee Williams, which is to be installed on the bench in front of the Tennessee Williams Home.
“We’re thrilled,” Carpenter said. “She’s a personal friend to my family and we’ve spent many holidays together, and it’s just a joy to once again publicly thank her for her wonderful contribution to the Tennessee Williams statue.”
At 9 a.m. Friday morning, there will also be a floral presentation by Mississippi State University Extension Service Associate Professor and Horticulture Specialist James DelPrince on “The Promise of Good Things: Floral Design for the Fall and Winter Season.”
“I’m going to present a variety of floral designs that are suitable in scale for people’s homes,” DelPrince said. “The antique show is all about the decorative arts, and floral design of course is a decorative art that goes hand-in-hand with antiques because the two enhance each other.”
DelPrince said the demonstration will include seasonal flowers and foliage, including dried Mississippi-grown flowers, to create arrangements that are both classic and contemporary.
After DelPrince’s demonstration, the show and sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and then from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Carpenter said 14 vendors will be present for the show, including dealers traveling from all over Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky.
“The dealers are actually friends of all of ours and friends of Columbians,” Carpenter said. “We just look forward to their coming and sharing time and they always love eating and spending the night in Columbus and being here for several days.”
James West, an antique dealer based out of Tupelo, said he has been coming to Art ‘N Antiques for the past 10 years. He said he is planning on bringing mid-1800s and Victorian furniture, along with antique porcelain, mirrors and more.
“It’s something that you look forward to every year,” West said. “I hope it continues. I know the interest in antiques is not what it used to be, but people in Columbus still love antiques like I do, and I look forward to seeing those people and coming every year.”
A silent auction will also be held throughout this event to benefit the restoration of the Tennessee Williams House Museum.
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