News

Lux Art Institute has been chosen to design and create the ornaments for California’s tree for the 2013 National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., the National Park Foundation announced today. Lux joins local artists and youth from each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia who were selected to design and create 24 ornaments for their respective state or territory tree.

“We are excited to have worked with Ocean Knoll elementary school in Encinitas, specifically Christine Usher’s third grade class,” said Lux teaching artist Lissa Corona who worked with the children. The students were asked to paint winter scenes from places they had visited on small log slices, a project based on the work of former Lux resident artist Alison Moritsugu. Moritsugu is one of the artist contributors to Lux’s Valise Project, a collection of works that travel to schools throughout the region in an effort to provide children with access to contemporary art. Scenes vary from traditional snow-covered landscapes, to sunny skies, and lavish beaches.

“It’s very special for our class to do the ornaments representing California that are going to be on the National Tree. It’s something I will remember forever,” said Sofia Lopez, one of the third grade artists who created the ornaments.

“All of us at Lux are proud to be included in this national celebration of the holiday season with our log slice ornamants,” said Lux director, Reesey Shaw.

“We are very pleased that Lux Art Institute will represent California in this year’s National Christmas Tree display,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “This time honored tradition is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.”

Four weeks of holiday events in President’s Park will kick off with the 91st National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. The exact date of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.

As one of America’s oldest holiday traditions, the National Christmas Tree Lighting began on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse in President’s Park. Since 1923, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. In addition to the National Christmas Tree display, President’s Park hosts a variety of family-oriented holiday attractions, such as the Santa’s Workshop, nightly holiday performances, a Yule log, nativity scene, and model train display. For ticket information and talent announcements, as well as other event details, please visit www.thenationaltree.org.

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