Museum of Arts and Sciences keeps holiday fun going with 'Festival of Trees' exhibition
Some folks may remove their holiday decorations by the New Year, but the Museum of Arts and Sciences will continue its 29th annual "Festival of Trees" exhibition until Jan. 15.
Thirty-five designer-decorated trees test the boundaries of the holiday tradition with unique interpretations on the theme.
"This is an opportunity -- because we are a museum -- for these designers to do something that is out of the norm," said Jean Peterson, the museum's development director. "They can push the boundaries."
The trees are all created by local artists, businesses and organizations.
The "Inside Out Tree" by a Wesleyan College 3D art class invites patrons to enter its brown cardboard frame. Once inside, detailed cutouts of angels, reindeer, bells, snowflakes and silver wire ornaments create a magical wonderland.
"It's fabulous," Peterson said. "From the outside you aren't really sure what it is, and it doesn't look that spectacular. You have to go inside to get the full effect. It's a great place for selfies."
Many trees are made from recycled materials. "The Palletree" is made from recycled wooden pallets. "Deja Vu All Over Again" is a colorful, almost summery tree made from melted and painted plastic bottles, bottle caps and straws.
Boxes of various sizes, wrapped in white gift wrap are stacked nearly 12 feet and then adorned with colorful paper garlands cascading from the crown to create "Paper Packages." Perhaps one of the most ornate trees is "Don't Drink and Decorate," which is made from hundreds of tiny detailed wine corks decorating a wooden tree form.
Museum spokesperson Sherry Singleton and a friend contributed "A Joyful Origami" to the collection. She said folding tiny paper to create the delicate ornaments was both a creative act and a nice way to focus her mind.
"The standard Christmas tree can get kind of boring," Singleton said, "so to an artist, it is a kind of fun challenge."
The exhibition is the final stage of the museum's annual "Festival of Trees" events, which began in November and included three fundraising events that raised more than $100,000.
"This is the museum's largest fundraising event each year," Peterson said. "'Festival of Trees' enables us to continue our platform of keeping the mission of education."
A luncheon Nov. 11 kicked things off with a meal for about 200 people prepared by local volunteer chefs Carol Chanin and Betty Meadors.
"The guests were some of the museum's most loyal supporters," said Peterson. "So it's wonderful for them to be able to come to the museum and see what's on exhibit and what's new and be able to enjoy a meal."
Nearly 400 supporters turned out for the the "Festival of Trees" Gala on Nov. 12 at Terminal Station in downtown Macon. The gala included catering by Two's Company, live music by the Grapevine and the Macon Millionaire Raffle with a prize package valued at more than $17,000.
Finally, the museum hosted its first Children's Holiday event Nov. 14 in collaboration with Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital. Children watched "Polar Express" in the planetarium, made ornaments and participated in a scavenger hunt.
"Festival of Trees" exhibition
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 15
Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road
Cost: Free with regular museum admission of $5-$10
Information: www.masmacon.org; 478-477-3232
This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Museum of Arts and Sciences keeps holiday fun going with 'Festival of Trees' exhibition ."