Local artist helps decorate the Governor's Christmas tree
Photo: SubmittedThis is the ornament painted by Frank Lindsey for the Christmas tree at the Governor's mansion.
Photo: SubmittedFrank Lindsey at home painting the ornament for the Governor's Christmas tree.
Local artist, Frank Lindsey, has a unique distinction. He is one of 95 artists across the state to each create an ornament for the Christmas tree in the Tennessee Governor’s mansion!
Crissy Haslam, wife of Gov. Bill Haslam, several months ago came up with an idea for decorating the official state Christmas tree at the governor’s home in Nashville. Her idea was to have an artist from each of the state’s 95 counties help with the project.
Every county was asked to send her the name of a local artist, which Trousdale County did. Then, each of those artists was mailed a blank round plastic ornament and a specific assignment.
The assignment…using materials and methods of their choice, decorate the ornament in a manner that would represent their home county.
Lindsey works with acrylic paints and specializes in rural scenes, barns, and farm subjects. So, he chose to paint a snow covered barn with a crop of tobacco hanging from the rafters. Tobacco is a fitting subject for our county, having been a major crop here over the years.
Although he took an art class in high school, Lindsey is largely self taught. Even so, he is quite good and won a blue ribbon for his work in this years’ Trousdale County fair with farm scenes he painted on a pair of old milk cans.
Lindsey and his wife Kathy moved to Trousdale County nine years ago from Middletown, Ohio, to be closer to their grandchildren.
He is semi-retired, having spent 31 years working in a steel mill. Now, he works part time driving a delivery truck…and painting!
His retirement gives him more time to paint, making pictures for family and friends or making items for the Hartsville Methodist’s church’s annual Christmas bazaar.
The governor’s Christmas tree will be on display to the public over the holidays and tours of the governor’s home are available.