You Could Win

This is your chance to win a priceless hand-painted violin by the late famed artist Christine Henderson Schmidt (1922-2009), and it costs you nothing! It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting the Showhouse. By agreeing to have your name added to our Showhouse mailing list, you will automatically be entered into our complimentary promotional drawing. The mailing list is not sold nor loaned, and only utilized to notify you of upcoming Showhouse events.

A registration table will be located in the Showhouse Resource Center. This magnificent violin will be awarded the week of April 25th, immediately following the Showhouse closing.

Brief Biography of Artist

Christine was considered a “Renaissance Woman” of her time. In 1972, when the state planned to construct a new Capitol building in Tallahassee, Christine marshaled a group of Jacksonville women from women’s clubs, garden circles, junior league and historic societies and convinced Govenor Reubin Askew and the Cabinet that the old dome could be saved. A month later, plans for the new 22-story tower structure were unveiled that contained the old dome portion nestled in the tower’s shadow. Jacksonville architect, John M. Barley II said Christine was “an indefatigable force” in assuring the original building be restored. Today it is the centerpiece of the Florida State Capitol complex.

In 1976, when presented the EVE Award by The Florida Times-Union in the volunteer category, she was cited for having raised more than $300,000 over 13 years for the American Cancer Society, Jacksonville Symphony, Episcopal schools, WJCT TV-7, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Museum of Science and History and the Garden Club of Jacksonville. In addition, in l972 Christine was also an integral member of the organizing committee for the Designer Showhouse; the first of its kind in the state of Florida!

As a talented flower arranger, Christine helped to organize the Late Bloomers, which eventually became the largest circle of the Jacksonville Garden Club. Her decorating and coordinating talents were such that she and the late Alice Ulmer, a fellow artist, formed Creative Concepts, planning and decorating special events.

Even though Christine was unbelievably artistic, she did not pick up a paintbrush until the age of 50. As a testament to her unbelievable talent, Raymond and Minerva Mason engaged her to capture glimpses of Connemarra, Ireland to be displayed on the walls of their Ballynahinch Castle.