Art in the Park in Cobb County

Cobb County is located near Atlanta, Georgia. It was created in 1832 from the huge Native American Cherokee territory, northwest of the Chattahoochee River. This land was confiscated from the original Cherokee Nation following the passage of the federal Indian Removal Act. The Cherokee people were then forced to march to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma state) on the infamous “Trail of Tears” where many perished (see my post on this here.)

Original extent of Cherokee Nation

We live in the west part of Cobb County and are about the same distance from 4 towns in this county: Marietta (the county seat) - Kennesaw (close to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park where the Atlanta campaign started during the Civil War) – Acworth and Powder Springs.



Last week-end we decided to go walking around Marietta Square in the center of Marietta. It has several alleys close by – some pretty – some, not so pretty, but beautiful flowers and tall shady trees in the square.

Click on collage to enlarge, then click again on any picture to bigify

It is a quaint, turn of the century square with Victorian era store fronts,



two theatres and several restaurants. One of our favorites is the Australian Bakery, owned by Australian folks.



A dance studio is also facing the square (I peeked in and took a picture.)



People like to take their pets to the Square – dogs, or birds.



The fountain in the center of the Square is an ideal place to take pictures. When we were there last we watched a colorful wedding party.



Lovely antique stores bordering the Square have intriguing and nostalgic inventories where we like to browse. Last time we walked there I had taken some pictures (you can see my reflection in the glass, next to my husband.) I believe I have that Doors album – is it an antique already?




We also went into the antique shops to have a look but mostly to get away from the hot sun (it was over 95 degrees F (35 C.) Below are some of the things we saw – how about the history of jolly old England?

Don't forget to click on collage to enlarge, then click again on any picture to bigify

My favorite item there was the little Art Deco blue lamp on the top right corner in the collage below… but I did not get it.



To get back to my story, on that Monday, Labor Day, everything was very quiet near our home but after we parked the car and started to approach the Marietta Square we could see crowds and the roads blocked. What was going on?

It was the yearly “Art on the Square” event, and we had forgotten it. I was pleased I had taken my camera. People everywhere – it was very warm again, in the mid 90s (35C +.) Dogs were happy to get some cool water and youngsters sat on the fountain taking pictures (as usual) or playing some music. Vibrant cardboard boxes, painted by kids, were on display on the ground.



There was a large array of beautiful art – painting, sculpture, jewelry and unusual objects – we could have spent a lot of money if we did not have a house already full to the brim with things of all kind. We went lazily around and I took pictures (when they let me.) Here is a sample of some paintings:



An artist was making brooms and an assortment of brooms with carved handles was for sale.



Many potters were there, too many to photograph. Here is a sample:



Lovely jewelry


I already have some nice wood pieces that I bought in Montana and Quebec but my husband and I were tempted…



I like this cat painted on tiles,



and also this glass window, reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" - 1889.




What about these lovely sea grass baskets hand-made by an artist from South Carolina? This is a true African American art form which started during the end of the seventeenth century. The Sea Island basket weaving tradition came out of rice cultivation during the 1680’s.



I did not enter the handmade dresses and wraps booth as I only wear casual clothes nowadays.




I took so many pictures but I am running out of space on this post. Here is my last collage



The painting below is the painting that I would have liked to take home and hang where I could look at it and imagine that I was really looking out to sea. It is a nice trompe l’oeil as we call this type of painting in French. It means to deceive the eye, to make an optical illusion. I need more illusions.



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