Kentucky State Tree in Washington D.C. will Feature Ornaments Made by Hurricane Katrina Victims
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft held a workshop at Wayside Christian Mission in October for the children evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. The kids used polymer clay to make ornaments that will be sent to Washington D.C. and used in the Christmas Pageant of Peace to decorate the Kentucky State tree in President’s Park at the White House.
The Christmas Pageant of Peace is a ceremony that will take place on Thursday, December 1, 2005 at 5pm in which President George W. Bush will flip the switch to light the National Christmas Tree, and also light the fifty states’ trees at the same time. The National Park Service will distribute 2,800 free tickets to the public who will be able to view the ceremony.
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft has accepted the opportunity to contribute the ornaments for the Kentucky State tree for the past 8 years. This year the ornaments have an extra special meaning, as they were handmade by the child victims of Hurricane Katrina who have been relocated to Louisville. “I wanted them to make the ornaments to represent our state to show how disasters can weave communities together,” explains Aerie Meredith, KMAC Education Assistant.
The workshop was inspired by ArtsCare, an initiative started by the Fund for the Arts to coordinate the efforts of all the local arts organizations that are supporting the Hurricane Relief efforts.
About the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981. Its mission is to promote the art and craft heritage of Kentucky. The Museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts and the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, that provides operational support funding for KMAC with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. It is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is free. For more information, please call 502.589.0102 or log on to www.KentuckyArts.org.
