Artists’ Exchange hosting gingerbread house decorating contest Dec. 5

Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 11/27/15

Artists’ Exchange has announced its 11th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest to be held Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Artists’ Exchange, located at 50 Rolfe Square in …

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Artists’ Exchange hosting gingerbread house decorating contest Dec. 5

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Artists’ Exchange has announced its 11th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest to be held Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Artists’ Exchange, located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston.

How does it work? Participants start with a simple graham cracker construction and craft it into a work of art. There are heaping supplies of frosting, pretzels and, of course, an array of colorful candy to decorate a dream candy home. And with no age limit, everyone is invited to join in on the fun.

“The Gingerbread Decorating Contest has become a family tradition here, not just for the staff and students, but the community as well. It is exciting to see families return year after year and watch how the children and the event have grown. This is my ninth year working to organize the event, and every year is more fun than the last,” said Shannon Casey, the event’s coordinator and director of visual arts programming at Artists’ Exchange.

Casey said attendance grows every year, so she and the staff are gearing up for a big crowd. Construction on the houses has already begun, and with the help of volunteers, Artists’ Exchange plans to have at least 600 houses by the week before the event. The studios will then be transformed into a holiday wonderland, creating an atmosphere designed to inspire childlike wonder and creativity.

While participants can take their houses home that day, they are invited to submit their creations for judging in their corresponding age category. Families can also opt to work on a house together and be judged in a separate family category. This year Santa Clause will be a guest judge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Houses entering the contest will be photographed, and the winners will be announced online by Monday, Dec. 7. Prizes include free classes at Artists’ Exchange, valued at up to $200.

The new winter session of classes is already available on the Artists’ Exchange website. Be sure to check the schedule before coming because all class registrations processed on the day of the event will get 25 percent off tuition.

Also included in the weekend’s festivities will be holiday grab bags, raffles, face painting, a series of holiday photo booths, and artwork from students and artist residents on display and for sale. Artist Exchange staff will also be taking photos of contestants and families in front of a painted backdrop of a mural depicting the Abominable Snowman, a giant gingerbread house to commemorate the day and will be posting them on their Facebook page.

Reservations are strongly recommended, and can be made at artists-exchange.org/gingerbreadevent.html.

It costs $14 per house, and those signing up can save $3 on online registrations with the coupon code GBRD15. Those with questions may visit artists-exchange.org.

The Artists’ Exchange is a non-profit art collaborative whose mission is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning, and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. Artists’ Exchange houses The Black Box Theatre and multiple art studios, as well as a gallery, art boutique and café, and offers enriching classes and weekly events in art, theatre, music and film.

Artists’ Exchange is owned and operated by Gateways to Change, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing of the quality of life for all human beings.

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