Nature lover gives pieces a chance

   Sometimes everything falls to pieces for those who lose a loved one. But not for Louise, the cat. When her owner, Mary Kistner, passed away in 2002, all the pieces of Louise’s world stayed intact. Kistner made sure of that.

   Louise now lives alone in the house and a neighbor, Jimmy Beaver, comes by daily to feed her, which is nothing new for Beaver, who started working for the Kistners when he was fourteen.

   As newlyweds, David and Mary Kistner moved to Snellville in the fifties and bought 500 acres at $25 an acre. Their parents thought they were wasting their money, but the young couple proved them wrong. After extensive research, the Kistners implemented progressive farming methods and introduced beefmaster cattle to Gwinnett County. 

   Mary worked the farm with David while pursuing her love of art. Her favorite medium was collage, in which she pieced together random, yet somehow related materials such as lace, foil, wood chips, dried leaves and magazine clippings. The Gwinnett Community Foundation honored her as a citizen of the year and the Hudgens Center for the Arts named their lobby after her for her contribution to the arts. 

   Kistner willed the estate to the Gwinnett Open Land Trust, the first and only land trust located in Gwinnett County, which preserves open and green space with environmental, historical and archeological value. And the Kistner estate more than qualifies on all counts. 

   The house is full of Kistner’s collages, which go beyond two dimensions. She and her husband built their house with “picture” windows in the true sense of the word. Each window frames a landscape collage which pieces together wildflowers and wire sculptures, clay pots and cleyera, pastures and potted plants. Each view, including a floor-to-ceiling scene in the bathroom, is an eclectic combination of art and nature.

   Kistner specified in her will that the estate was to never be developed, but to be used to develop an appreciation of art and nature in the community. She believed if we educate adults, they will educate their children on the importance of preserving nature. So far, several scout groups have participated in nature craft workshops on the premises and local artists and horticulturists have conducted seminars. This Saturday, Cynthia Guay, director of education at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art will explain the role of nature and wildlife in Anderson’s watercolors. On May l9, Dr. Richard Ludwig, from Gwinnett Tech will present “From the Ground Up,” design tips for gardeners. 

   Kistner left space and inspiration for the community to contribute to her world of collages both on soil and in spirit. Dale Higdon of the Georgia Forestry Commission noted that the grounds are perfect for prospective Eagle Scout projects. With our diversity of tastes and talents, what masterpieces we could put together. And with all that creative activity going on, how much more Louise will feel at home. More Info: www.gwinnettlandtrust.org 

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