Emily Nash Smith, a distinguished Leelanau County artist whose work was exhibited in Paris, France, in 1975, remains a cherished figure in the local artistic community. Smith, who passed away in 1983 at the age of 86, was known for her diverse talents as an educator, farmer, businesswoman, and artist. Her works continue to be displayed more than 40 years after her death, appearing in prominent locations such as the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C., the Ford Motor Company headquarters, and numerous private art collections across the U.S. and Europe.
Her family, including grandson Tom Van Pelt, is actively seeking information on three of Smith’s missing artworks. These include a needlework piece titled “Garden Road,” and two paintings: “Omena,” created in 1958 for her daughter Joan and believed to have been sold to a Ford Motor Executive in 1960, and “Omena II,” a similar piece that is also untraceable.
Emily Nash and Thearl Smith, her future husband, were both raised in Tipton, Indiana. After marrying, the couple moved from Indiana to Leelanau Township in 1922, establishing Overlook Farms. While Thearl developed the cherry farm into a successful enterprise, Emily balanced her roles as a mother to their daughter, Joan Frances Smith, an educator at a one-room schoolhouse at Bass Lake, a businesswoman managing an antiques venture, and a baker of treats for Northport Pointe visitors. She also cultivated her early artistic skills in hand-hooked rugs and other textiles, all while working the 160-acre farm alongside her husband and tending her gardens.
Smith's innovative spirit extended to her community contributions. In the late 1920s and '30s, after requests from Northport Pointe patrons, she began hosting special events summer chicken dinners at Overlook Farms. For these gatherings, she would harvest water lilies from a local pond to create unique table decorations, showcasing her burgeoning artistic sensibility.
Her mastery as a painter blossomed later in life, in her 50s, during winter vacations in Long Boat Key, Florida. There, she enrolled at a college in Sarasota, studying under notable artists such as Syd Solomon, Philip Guston, and Larry Rivers. She also received instruction from Emile Gruppe, Robert McFarland, Marilyn Bendell, Hilton Leach, and Eldon Rowland. Fellow artist Marilyn Bendell is credited by Smith for her developing painting skills. Emily noted that “It’s all a question of light and shadow and halftone” when interpreting a subject, a principle she attributed to Bendell's teaching.
Smith was known for her experimental approach, utilizing various mediums including watercolors, oils, acrylics, and later incorporating mixed media and textiles into her works. She even experimented with different types of metals in her paintings. The visual impact of her work is notable; a beach scene painting in her grandson’s home is described as changing with the light, with sands turning gold and glowing under a flashlight. Her needlework piece, “Garden Road,” was an exceptional example of her textile artistry, and its absence is deeply felt by the family.
Her painting “Omena,” created for her daughter Joan in 1958, marked a period when Smith's skills were flourishing. This piece, along with a follow-up, “Omena II,” is among the works the Van Pelt family hopes to locate, appealing for any information the public might have regarding their whereabouts.
The pinnacle of Smith’s artistic career arrived in 1975 with the invitation to exhibit her work in Paris. Traveling alone by ship with her art, she achieved significant success, selling many pieces to a European clientele. At the exhibition, she wore a patchwork skirt she designed and made, which drew attention from attendees who inquired about her couturier, according to Traverse City artist Pat Ford, as recounted by Bill McCulloch to the Traverse City Record Eagle in 1978.
Emily Nash Smith's legacy is that of a powerful creative force who generously shared her talents and wisdom. Benzie Art Teacher Dave Rosendale stated that Smith's creativity “has exerted this kind of force all her life,” a sentiment echoed by Bill McCulloch, who noted its impact “through the lives of hundreds of her students.” Smith is recognized as a cherished member of Leelanau County's rich artistic tapestry, a woman of education, art, homemaking, culinary skill, special events hosting, business acumen, and a mentor to many.