Tree extravaganza opens Friday at Johnson Center

Staff

Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Johnson Center for the Arts will present a Christmas Tree Extravaganza that is sure to bring a special joy to the holiday season.

The Extravaganza will feature 11 specially decorated trees including a massive 18-foot tree decorated as if by Mother Nature herself.

The preview opening for the Christmas Tree Extravaganza will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 1 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. The Extravaganza will be a part of the holiday season through Jan. 4.

“We wanted to open the Christmas Tree Extravaganza to the public during the Thanksgiving holidays so those who are ‘home for the holidays’ will have an opportunity to view this beautiful display of Christmas trees,” said Wiley White, Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center development director. “This a fantastic display for the holidays and one that everyone will enjoy.”

The Christmas Tree Extravaganza is sponsored by Terra Cotta Home and Outdoor Market.

“All of the trees were donated by Terra Cotta, which also sponsored the centerpiece tree in the Main Gallery,” White said. “Nancy Harrell, a talented local designer, decorated the tree with magnolia leaves, twigs, moss and holly garland. The centerpiece tree celebrates the simplicity with which we should all greet the holiday season.”

Tree partners paid a fee to join with the Johnson Center for the Arts in bringing the Christmas Tree Extravaganza to the gallery.

The Chrismon Tree was decorated with Chrismons from the collection of Claire Murphy. “The word Chrismon is a combination of parts of two words, Christ and monogram,” White said.

The Brundidge Lions Club decorated a tree with small stuffed lions.

“These special ornaments may be purchased for a donation of $10 in memory or in honor of someone,” White said. “The name of the person honored or memorialized will be attached to a lion on the tree.”

All proceeds will go to the Brundidge Lions Club.

Lauren Horne, a Troy University students, designed the Confucius Institute at Troy University Tree. It’s decorated with flags of the United States and The People’s Republic of China.

“The Horn Beverage Company Tree is creatively decorated with ornaments, key chains and bottle openers featuring the logos of the products distributed by Horn Beverage Company,” White said.

The Troy University Alumni Association Tree was designed and decorated by university student Rob Drinkard. It features the complete collection of Troy University’s commemorative holiday ornaments.

The On the Square Antiques Vintage Tree is decorated with Christmas postcards from the early 1900s and with ornaments from the same period. It was decorated by Ann Howard and Gail Thompson.

The Wal-Mart Super Center Tree is decorated with extra large green and red globe ornaments and Wal-Mart gift cards and has a façade of the Wal-Mart Super Center as its focal point.

The Alabama Writers Forum Tree is decorated with book covers and instruments that are the tools of the trade for writers.

Scherryl Harrison, Patricia Thomas and Velma Tucker have decorated a tree with ornaments that have special meaning to them and meaning that translates to others.

“We encourage the people of our community to take advantage of this opportunity to visit the Christmas Tree Extravaganza at the Johnson Center for the Arts along with their families during the Thanksgiving holidays,” White said. “It’s a wonderful way to usher in the Christmas season. Admission to the Johnson Center for the Arts is always free and there is always something to see, learn and enjoy.”

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