Foley’s Trim-A-Tree includes Pleasure Island Art Map

Foley’s Trim-A-Tree includes Pleasure Island Art Map

Included in the vast variety of unique artwork for sale at The Foley Art Center’s 49th Annual Trim-A-Tree is the Pleasure Island Art Map created by Melissa Smith. The annual six week holiday fine arts and crafts event continues through Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sundays in Suite 230 at the Tanger Outlet in Foley.
Smith, a Venice native who has been living part-time in Fairhope for the past eight years, is one of the 200 artists from throughout the southeast selling their juried work at Trim-A-Tree. All vendors are members of the Foley Art Center.
Smith’s amazingly detailed map includes umbrellas to identify beach access points and numerous local references, including a “Bushwhacker” flag flying from an open console boat, and shout-outs to landmarks such as Pirates Cove, The Hugh Branyon Back Country Trail and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
Other interesting details include paws to identify a few of the dog friendly spots on the map.
“Restaurants are very tricky. So I tried to stick to those that are romantic, very historic or well known,’’ Smith said. “I am sure I missed someone important ones. That part is hard.’’
Smith, who also created the popular Mobile Bay Art Map among other similar projects, is also selling the maps at the Foley Art Center, Tino’s Art and Frame in Gulf Shores and The Indian and Sea Museum in Orange Beach, The Lyons Share in Fairhope and Ashland Gallery in Mobile. The 18’’ x 24″ maps have a 1/2’’ white border and retail for $40. (They are on sale at Trim-A-Tree for $35 through Dec. 21).
Smith spent three months researching and composing the Pleasure Island Art Map, with assistance from local historians such as Gail Graham Walker, Zana Price and Donnie Barrett and Orange Beach based artist Nick Cantrell.
The map even references an old cemetery in Spanish Cove.
“I even found a list of names buried there. Lots of Resmondos,’’ she said. “There are graves from the early 1800’s.’’
Smith said she has spent much of her life on boats and has a fondness for marinas and old boat yards. So she included Nelson’s Boat Yard, Saunders Yacht Works and Resmondo’s Boat Works on the map.
“I wanted to give a nod to the original Orange Beach Hotel in memory of that building, and I have Oranges in Caswell because that is where they flourished before the climate change,’’ she added. Numerous other local references on the map include The Miss LuLu dive site. She has also created a popular art map for the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.
For more info about Smith’s work, visit mobilebaymap.com.