Holly Lawrence, a native of Cedartown who has lived in New York City for the past 32 years, returned on Thanksgiving Day to visit relatives and make a special gift to the community.

She presented the Polk County Historical Society with an oil painting of the fountain which presently adorns the garden of that organization. “Cedartown was an important part of my life and I want to reestablish that bond,” Lawrence said.

Calling it her favorite landmark, Lawrence painted the fountain at the age of 12 when it was located in Peeks Park.

“From my vantage point as a child, I considered the fountain to be the grand aristocrat of the park with its own ornate swirls and regal presence. I studied the structure intensely, circling around it and imagining far away palaces and castles that I longed to visit some day. I was so happy to find out that the Historical Society had given the fountain a permanent home,” she continued.

Lawrence began her interest in art at the age of six while attending Benedict School in Cedartown. She credits local artists Margret (Peg) Whipple and Reba York with her inspiration and early training. She was a frequent competitor in 4-H Club arts and crafts contests as well as the annual Cedar Valley Arts Festival.

Lawrence continued her art studies at Floyd Junior College before leaving for New York to earn her Bachelor of Arts in English at Marymount Manhattan College and a Master of Arts from Columbia University in New York City. She has also studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California.

In addition to her career in art, Lawrence is an avid traveler. She has visited almost every continent and loves to find beautiful fountains around the world.

Lawrence’s painting can be viewed at the Polk County Historical Society Museum from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.