Eason to be featured presenter at Belle Mont’s ‘Art of the Dish’
“Art of the Dish,” the popular antique and vintage china exhibit, will return to Belle Mont Mansion, Wednesday through Saturday, June 26-29. Individuals from across the communities of the Shoals have been invited to display china and tableware from their private collections, some dating from the early 1800’s and spanning through the mid-20th Century. A special feature of this year’s event on Friday and Saturday, June 28 and 29, will be the participation of Facebook’s Beautiful Table Settings founder, May Ridolphi Eason of Wetumpka, Alabama. Eason will be displaying table settings, fittingly called an “Independence Day Celebration.”
Eason explained, “I will share table settings to celebrate our Fourth of July with china and decorations that commemorate our history. Flatware with our 13 original colonies will be used along with dinnerware representing the American Revolution that formed our nation.”
In September of 2019, Eason launched a Facebook group “Beautiful Table Settings” that by the first year had grown to number 35,000 members and now numbers 244K. During the Pandemic many people were entertained and inspired by following BTS. The group, under Eason’s direction, recently celebrated its fourth BTS “Bash” – a showcase and seminar about all things for hospitable entertaining. A new event, “A Southern Antique Affair” will be held in August in Vicksburg.
May Eason is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a major in interior design. An antique enthusiast, she holds several booths in antique shops and fills her historic home in Wetumpka filled with a beautiful collection of period furniture and antique china and glassware displayed about the formal rooms. These lovely items are often arranged for her followers to enjoy in posts on “Beautiful Table Settings.”
Jackie Stutts, who serves as chair of this year’s event said she is “thrilled that we have been able to invite May to Belle Mont to share her talents and her experiences with our audiences! Additionally, we have one of our own local ladies, Anita Matthews, who will participate in the program.”
Matthews, who resides in Tuscumbia, is a member of BTS and is an award winner for her submissions to the BTS digital magazine. She is known for her varied tablescapes and often lakeside settings, as well as for her photography, which beautifully sets her displays apart. Matthews will be designing seasonal display tables to further add to the Art of the Dish program.
On Friday and Saturday, June 28th and 29th, advance reservation tickets priced at $30 are required for the BTS program by May Eason. Seatings are scheduled at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. A box lunch is included in the ticket price and will be served at 12:00 noon to ticket holders (only). Due to limited seating for the talks, when purchasing tickets , the preferred seating time must be reserved. Tickets may be purchased at Belle Mont Mansion or by calling 256-381-5052 for payment by credit card or emailing: [email protected].
To attend the china exhibit (only), which will be displayed throughout the museum, during the four exhibit days, June 26th – 29th, regular museum admission rates apply and may be paid at the door. ($8.00 adults, with no discounts available).
Belle Mont is located at 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia. Parking for this event will be adjoining the rear courtyard of the house, where the luncheon will be served al fresco. The program will be presented indoors. For more information: [email protected] or call Belle Mont at 256-381-5052.
Belle Mont is a historic property owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated locally by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. To learn more about Belle Mont or the Alabama Historical Commission, please visit bellemontmansion.godaddysites.com or www.ahc.alabama.gov.
Submitted by:
Ninon Parker, Site Director
Belle Mont Mansion
256-381-5052 or 256-710-9081
