The Art Deco era comes alive at annual picnic

Daijah Hinmon, Contributing Writer

The Wilton House Museum hosted its 12th annual Gatsby Afternoon Picnic on Sept. 21, while also celebrating the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with a blue theme, according to the Art Deco Society of Virginia website.

The Gatsby Afternoon Picnic started out as a casual, old-fashioned-themed picnic open to everyone, until people driving by began to notice and joined in, according to Andy Nishida, the president of the Art Deco Society of Virginia. 

The picnic featured fun contests, a live band and a portable dance floor, according to Nishida.

To make the picnic feel like the Art Deco era, they held contests and games that would’ve happened during that time, such as a best pie, a Charleston, best dressed and musical chairs contests, according to Nishida. 

“It’s a really unique experience in terms of events that happen around Richmond,” Nishida said. “There are larger ones in other parts of the country, but this is our little contribution to something that people don’t really get to experience very often.”

The Art Deco Society of Virginia is an organization that is interested in preserving and educating people about the Art Deco era, which was between 1919 and 1939, according to Nishida.

“We’re interested in that era and keeping it alive so future generations will be able to appreciate it,” Nishida said. “Once old things are removed or torn down, it’s really hard to have a good appreciation of it.”

The goal for these events is to approximate the time period as much as possible, according to attendee Christine Hall.

“I think that the Art Deco Society of Virginia does a great job at cultivating this culture of the 1920s, and for that matter, 30s and 40s appreciation,” Hall said.

This was the fourth time Paul and Shannon Haden attended the event. The interesting people they meet and the culture is what brings them back, the couple said.

Everyone you meet at events like this is going to have their own stories and personalities, Paul Haden said. 

“We’re 40-year-olds,” Shannon Haden said. “How often do you get to play dress-up?” 

Almost everything in the pair’s picnic display came from antique stores both locally and in the tri-state area, according to Shannon Haden. They had antique silverware, homemade treats and even antique furniture. 

“I love coming and seeing how everybody else sets up their displays and outfits, and then you take from that and can incorporate it into your next adventure,” Shannon Haden said.

Savannah Gross, the Wilton House Museum’s director of visitor experience, said she aimed to improve the museum’s visibility during the Gatsby Afternoon Picnic. She held a special focus tour about Wilton and its 1920s history to incorporate the museum into the picnic. 

The Wilton House Museum, built in 1753, was once the home of the Randolph family for more than 100 years, according to its website. It was originally located in Henrico but moved to Richmond in the 1930s, according to Gross.

“I was really lucky that they were receptive to trying to boost Museum programming here, and they’re excited about incorporating the special focus tour, so it’s been awesome,” Gross said.