ENCINITAS — Ornaments from all 56 U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia are displayed at the 2013 Washington, D.C. National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
This year, California’s contribution will come from Ocean Knoll third-graders and Lux Art Institute.
The institute was 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. They join local artists and youth from every state, 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. Scenes vary from traditional snow-covered landscapes, to sunny skies and 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.
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, visit thenationaltree.org.
