24 youths to be selected to make ornaments for State Tree

Posted 10/16/14

Warwick youths ages 8-17 will be randomly selected to participate in two ornament workshops for the Rhode Island State Tree to be displayed on the White House Ellipse this December.

Fifty-six …

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24 youths to be selected to make ornaments for State Tree

Posted

Warwick youths ages 8-17 will be randomly selected to participate in two ornament workshops for the Rhode Island State Tree to be displayed on the White House Ellipse this December.

Fifty-six trees representing the 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia will be displayed on the Pathway of Peace; each tree is decorated with one-of-a-kind ornaments made by artists and state residents. This year the Warwick Museum of Art (WMOA) was chosen to coordinate the state’s 24 tree ornaments. The non-profit arts center, located at 3259 Post Road in Apponaug, will work with a Warwick artist and the National Parks Foundation to meet the Nov. 10 delivery date.

"It's an honor to be chosen for this project," stated WMOA board president Pamela Unwin-Barkley. "We're very excited to be decorating the Rhode Island State Tree, and we hope to share this excitement with the entire community."

To do that, the arts organization is inviting Warwick youth ages 8-17 to enter their names in a drawing for two ornaments workshops planned for Saturday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 1. Both workshops are from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and limited to 12 participants.

Rebecca Stockdill, a volunteer art instructor at Cedar Hill School and a pending roster artist for RISCA, will provide instruction and guidance for the 24 workshop participants. Ms. Stockdill has led popular workshops for children of U.S. military families and at April and Summer Art Camp at WMOA, and she's an artist in her own right.

"Rebecca has years of experience working with youth," noted program director Simone Spruce-Torres. "So we know the workshops will be fun, and the Rhode Island state ornaments will be colorful and creative."

Each workshop participant will create two ornaments, one Rhode Island state tree ornament that will be hung in D.C. and a replica keepsake ornament to hang on their own family tree. The keepsake ornaments will be displayed in the main gallery at WMOA from Nov. 18 to Dec. 20.

“I am very proud that youth from our community will have the opportunity to create ornaments for the Rhode Island state tree in Washington, D.C., and I am very pleased that the museum will be displaying the ornaments in their main gallery for all to see," said Mayor Scott Avedisian. "Not only will this project highlight the creativity, talent and artistic skills of Warwick’s youth, but it will also showcase one of our city’s cultural gems, the Warwick Museum of Art.”

The main gallery is open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are always welcome.

Those looking to participate may email their entry to taylor@warwickmuseum.org, Subject Line: RI State Tree Ornament Workshops, or visit the gallery and complete a form. They should include age, address and the preferred workshop. Participants will be randomly drawn on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m.

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