Photo by Gerald Burwell Top: Good friends taking part in some wholesome skeet shooting. Left to Right: Vaughan Spanjer holding daughter Margo, Justin Gaffrey, Christy Milliken, and Tim Spanjer holding son Gabe Above: A batch of Pursell Farms’ incredible wildflower honey
the rest of us while shooting clays! The shoot was followed by lunch at the golf course clubhouse with the other guests. As the afternoon progressed, we had a little time to explore and then rest before ending the evening with an intimate dinner gathering with the Pursell Family. The flowers of choice for the dinner party were plump blue and white hydrangeas, provided by Leaf and Petal of Birmingham, Alabama, owned by Taylor and Lydia Pursell. Photo by Christy Milliken
Top: A road worth traveling Above, right to left: After taking out some clay pigeons of her own, Christy takes aim on Justin Gaffrey, Greg Bolton, Tim Spanjer, and Gerald Burwell
pieces include delicate works of poetry (written by Justin) etched onto them. The expression of work is evolving with the spirit of the artist, who recently said, “I don’t just want to paint something beautiful; I want to create something that means something beautiful.” He will still create some of his most known and beloved palette-knife works, including water scenes, landscapes, and flowers, but he will also continue to invent new ways to use paint. It is exciting to be a part of this growth, so to begin this year with a family that knows a little something about growth was such a gift for me. 156 | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 014
The weekend continued with a little history about Pursell family friend Jim Nabors, a native of Sylacauga best known for his role as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Justin stayed in the Jim Nabors room in the relaxed atmosphere of Parker Lodge and awoke Saturday morning to enjoy a little skeet shooting with farm manager Greg Bolton, Tim Spanjer and his wife, Vaughan Pursell-Spanjer, Gerald Burwell, and me. Only after the shoot did we find out that Gerald was a competitive marksman in high school—this explained a lot about how he dusted
The weekend at the farm can be described as one of new beginnings and new inspiration. Justin Gaffrey Studio and Gallery joined forces with Cornerstone Marketing and Advertising, Inc. (publisher of VIE) this year to launch new projects and ideas. Together we have some phenomenal things planned, including an art show in Clifden, Ireland, scheduled for August, and I cannot wait. I believe that where rules are broken, boundaries are pushed and fear becomes elusive, filling the void with a faith that cultivates evolving growth.
To book your visit to Pursell Farms, visit pursellfarms. com. For purchasing inquiries or more information about artist Justin Gaffrey, visit justingaffrey.com.