Suzette Smith creates ‘Gingerbread Lane’ for Holiday Card Lane
MADISON – Suzette Smith is among the local artists exhibiting their charming, original artwork for the Christmas season along Holiday Card Lane on two downtown streets. Smith said the lane is a fun project in which to participate. “I love that my kids get to see the card up as part of the ‘lane,’” she said.
Holiday Card Lane gives public recognition to talented visual artists, Rosalie Holcombe, President of sponsoring organization Madison Arts Alliance, said. “Each artist comes up with their own theme, and downtown residents are proud to display these creations.”
Holiday Card Lane showcases oversized Christmas greeting cards, painted on wooden ‘canvases’ in assorted genres, including traditional, religious, comical and scenic. The cards are mounted along Front and Church streets in historic homes’ front lawns.
Smith works from her home studio, Fine Art by Suzette. “I heard about the Holiday Card Lane open call for submissions through the Madison Art Alliance,” Smith said. “I previously had a solo show through them at Madison Public Library and was excited to work with their organization again on the card project.”
Her card’s name is “Gingerbread Lane.” “My card for Holiday Card Lane is a sweet gingerbread scene with gingerbread houses and Christmas trees. The card features some festive gingerbread people and the historic Madison city clock on Main Street,” Smith said.
“The biggest challenge for me in creating this card was the sheer size of it,” Smith said. “I generally work on canvas and that billboard was much larger than I am used to.”
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in art education and a master’s degree in studio art (painting). “I have been artistic since I was a kid. God gave me a talent, and I try to use it well,” she said.
“Madison Art Alliance has been wonderful to work with. They really gave me a good start here in Madison, when I started showing and selling my work,” Smith said. Currently, she is exhibiting her work at Madison Community Center. She participates with Madison Street Festival each year, and her work is available for sale at Harrison Brothers Hardware in Huntsville.
Cards will be on exhibit throughout December.
The sponsor for Smith’s work is Madison Station Historical Preservation Society.
