If you’ve ever been to Downtown Cartersville, you may have seen the colorful mansion that stands proudly over near the library. First built in the 1860s, The iconography of the ‘House Museum’ Known as Roselawn has gone on to become an important staple of our humble little city, standing alongside landmarks such as The Grand Theatre and Young Brother Pharmacy in showing what makes Cartersville…well…Cartersville! Biannually, this beautiful, historic home hosts art festivals that bring together painters, potters, jewelers, bakers, woodworkers, and a whole slew of other artisans to show off and sell their handmade goods to the community.
Before you learn about the art festival, it would be beneficial to know about the history of the Roselawn House itself. Well, after being sold by a merchant named Nelson Gilreath, it was famously owned by the local legend Sam Jones- a popular Methodist Episcopal revivalist in the 19th century and the starter of Sam Jones Methodist Church downtown. Sam Jones was once the most famous evangelist in the South, preaching everywhere from New York to Canada, to Boston, and even in the Union Gospel Tabernacle, which would later become the Grand Ole Opry. It’s crazy to believe that someone who used to be so notable lived here in Cartersville, but because he did our community has been blessed with the landmark of his old residence, which hosts the art festival today!
This year, 2024, marked the 49th annual Roselawn Arts Festival. This year saw the introduction of numerous new stands, and by proxy, numerous new businesses and skill sets. For example, Caroline Lanier’s sewing and crochet business Labor Day Weekend made its debut this year! She states, “I would say my experience [as a first-time vendor] was overall good. I was able to meet a lot of new people that I wouldn’t have been able to before.”
There were also numerous returning members as well. Johannah Nunez, daughter of our former Culinary Teacher Mrs. Nunez, has a baking business named Goodies and Grace that has been at Roselawn for the last five years. She says, “[The] experience is phenomenal, community is great and it’s always so fun to meet new people!!”
Both women share the sentiment that community events like Roselawn in which art and artisans are celebrated help to bring communities together. Lanier states, “I definitely know that events like this bring artists [and communities] together because there are people who look for the handmade items… [and] there are also artists yearning for validation in the community in the art they create. Events like these bridge the gaps.” And Nunez also added, “…You get to meet the creators instead of just clicking a screen and receiving the product! You get to learn about the craft and build relationships.”
As for any students who might want to start a business of their own one day, they also offer advice for you! Nunez states, “Starting a business will be the hardest and most rewarding thing you ever do!… Walk into it and never quit!” And Lanier expresses, “Just do it. Do not let fear hold you back. Many people will discourage you and try to stifle you, but you cannot listen to the unsupportive ones. Not everyone will see your vision and that’s ok!… And start on social media! Show the behind the scenes…[and] have people get to know you as a maker.” As they stated, starting a business will be an exceedingly hard venture if you do decide to pursue it, but as they have also stated, perseverance is the key to success when it comes to it! Other creatives will most likely have your back in the field, all you have to do is reach out and ask for their advice and guidance on the matter. What matters the most if you are indeed passionate about starting a business is that you need to stick it out and let your passion guide the direction that you go with it.
In conclusion, The Roselawn Arts Festival is an important event that helps not only to uplift local hand-made businesses but also helps bring our community together in ways that are difficult to truly put into words. Festivals like this inspire our younger generations to want to get involved in the arts, which in this world of instant gratification and excessive apathy should be viewed as a blessing. Art in every form is a labor of love, which is thoroughly expressed by not just Lanier and Nunez, but by every stall that was set up at Roselawn this year. Each stroke of the brush, each stitch of a crochet needle, each whittle of the wood, each dollop of icing, each shaping of the clay; all of it is meticulously and precisely decided by the person behind it. Any artist of any type will tell you that art is a process, often a stressful process, but they will also tell you that all that time and energy was worthwhile for the satisfaction obtained by finishing what they set out to accomplish. So, if this dream speaks to you, follow it. See where your passions take you and maybe, just maybe, we here at the Cass High School Trumpet will be seeing you and your business at The Roselawn Arts Festival someday in the future.
Here’s a link to both of their businesses:
