Epicure
ABOVE & ABOVE-LEFT
Barrel Room
LEFT
Debi Lander, Judy Wells & Bob
Timberlake
Another day I stopped into the Bob
Timberlake Gallery, expecting to see
Bob’s paintings and reproductions.
Oh my, I was wrong. The Gallery is
much more than artwork. I learned
that the structure is the culmination
of the artist’s dream and was ten
years in the making. It includes his
own line of finely crafted furniture
inspired by
th century craftsmen
and arranged in ways that make you
want to sit down and linger.
However, it is certainly not
a typical a furniture store.
The sprawling building is light and
airy, dominated by a huge stone
chimney. The inviting rooms seem
to go on forever. The walls are hung
with decorative accessories,
Estate House at Childress Vineyards
anti ues and end tables that
showcase Timberlake lamps. The
highlight, other than the artwork,
is the fully rigged, anti ue sailing
canoe suspended in the main
gallery. Timberlake has cleverly
combined his artistic view to
design lines of home furnishings
and rugs. He has even licensed his
name on an array of items like so
many clothing designers, sports
figures and chefs. But his look stays
true everything that bears the
Bob imberlake name re ects a
comfortable, casual and slightly
elegant touch.
I meandered around and was
surprised to find a coffee shop and
the artist in person. Bob Timberlake
presented himself as a down to
earth friendly man. He is primarily
known for his watercolor paintings
which I would describe as realistic
country scenes or refined folk art.
ou can clearly see the in uence of
Andrew Wyeth in his work. Although
Timberlake was self-taught, he was
mentored by the famous artist.
Another surprise: Timberlake didn’t
begin his professional career until
1970, when he was 33 years old.
Having met both unassuming men,
I can understand how they would
be friends. They both support
the Lexington Barbecue Festival.
Childress Vineyards is a primary
sponsor of the annual event held
in October. Artist Bob Timberlake
designs a label and Childress bottles
a special vintage called Fine Swine
Wine. Bottles go on sale the morning
of the estival and sell out uickly.
The extravaganza attracts 200,000
people and has been called one of
the op en ne ay estivals in the
U.S. Mark your calendar to attend
the Lexington BBQ Festival on
ctober
,
. ou just might
meet these two men as well.
To learn more go to
www.childressvineyards.com.
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