By Darla McCammon

Pictured is a painting of Scarlett O’Hara by Helen Carlton.

As I was researching another topic, my daughter happened to find something about the movie “Gone with the Wind” that led me down several rabbit trails, but ultimately, I was able to find some fascinating history.

Margaret Mitchell wrote the book, but David O. Selznick made it into an epic film that shook the world. What was my discovery? An artist, Helen Carlton, conveyed the beauty along with the haughtiness and complexities of Scarlett in an original painting. The film was released with its premiere showing in Atlanta in December 1939.

Today we are very fortunate because you can visit Margaret Mitchell’s home and tour it in Atlanta. Featured prominently among the many artifacts and information you will see on the tour is the original portrait of Scarlett in that daring blue dress that hung in Rhett Butler’s bedroom in the mansion he built after the war.

Not much information exists about Helen Carlton, who did the painting of actress Vivien Leigh in 1938, but her other work included her daughter’s portrait, likenesses of Einstein, Marilyn Monroe and Bing Crosby. Carlton was a multi-talented actress, artist, and singer. As you can see from the photo of her painting, she was also a master at all of it. As with many creative types, talent seems to flow out of their pores in many directions.

Oddly in my research I noticed a remarkable resemblance between Vivien Leigh, Margaret Mitchell, and Helen Carlton. Not only were all three remarkably talented, but they could almost have been triplets.

A New York firm decorated the set for the movie and selected all the furnishing that surrounded the painting. The portrait was moved from the set in 1939 and delivered from California to Atlanta for the premiere. Today it is owned by the Atlanta Board of Education and is on loan to the Margaret Mitchell museum. I hope to have an opportunity to go see it in person one day.

The winners of the LAA fall member exhibit competition have been revealed. The winners are Leo Dean Jansen, honorable mention plus purchase award; Elizabeth Wamsly, honorable mention; Susan Ring, third place; Jennifer Laffoon, second place; Kenton Yoder, first place; and Heidi Bailey, best in show plus purchase award. Congratulations!

We are planning an exhibit in January 2019, if possible, of work by Mary Alice Estep. If you have some of her work you would be willing to exhibit on loan to Warsaw City Hall, please contact Darla. This should be an outstanding exhibit for our community. Thank you for considering this exhibit.

Upcoming and Current Events

Please contact Darla McCammon at (574) 527-4044 or at [email protected] if you have an event to mention.

• The LAA member show exhibit with award-winning work is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• Through Dec. 28, photography by Florida artist Darlene Romano will be on display at the Warsaw City Hall Gallery, 102 S. Buffalo St. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Online views of more work by this artist can be found at www.darleneromano.com.
• A gallery at Rua will be on display through Jan. 12.
• There will be a potential Mary Alice Estep exhibit from the first week in January through March 2019.