On the evening of Thursday, September 23, the parking deck of the Atlanta History Center was scattered with hundreds of hungry bargain hunters. The area was transformed into an impressive array of vintage women’s wear, accessories, books, home wares, paintings, furniture, men’s wear, children’s wear and more for the annual Forward Arts Foundation Flea Market.
The Forward Arts Foundation was founded by a group of 12 Atlanta women in the 1960s to help develop and promote artists and art education in the city. In the past, they have made donations to SCAD, the High Museum of Art and the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory. The group also founded the Swan Coach House gallery, which regularly holds exhibitions for local and nationally recognized artists. The proceeds of this year’s flea market will benefit the visual arts of Atlanta and go towards the remarkable galleries and museums that support artists of the past, present and future.
As a volunteer at the event, I was fortunate enough to flick through the racks of Escada jackets and knit Prada pants, and wrap myself up in Chanel scarves. While guests of the kick-off party purchased their new-found treasures, it was wonderful to see “everyone enjoying the shopping and [the proceeds] going to a great cause,” said Barb, a guest at the event.
Many generous sponsors donated the sale items for the flea market as well as those available in the silent auction. Some highlights were travel donations by Air Tran Airways and Peter Lloyd and Gene Lashley of Century Travel, jewellery by Migliore and Eric Barr, bed linens from Belles Chambres and a “Biggest Loser Package” from training nutritionist Julie Taube and personal trainer Julie Belknap.
The end of the flea market drew near on the afternoon of Saturday, September 25. As the prices of the donated goods dropped, the Foundation’s proceeds increased. The Forward Arts Foundation Flea Market was another fun success for the organization and the Atlanta art community.
