Holiday display includes variety of decorators including civic groups, schools and collectors
TUSCUMBIA-From Rogersville to Russellville, local groups will be decorating Christmas trees at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art.
Their trees — nine in total — will be displayed at The Trees of Christmas 2018, which opens 9 a.m., Fri. Nov. 30 and runs through Christmas Eve. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat. Dec. 8 and Dec. 22, and 1-3 p.m. on Sundays. Christmas Eve hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and free on Sundays. Group rates are available for groups of 15 or more.
The Trees of Christmas is an annual exhibition featuring a display of nine 12-foot-tall live fir trees decorated by area civic clubs, groups, schools, businesses or individuals, pulling from a variety of styles, ideas and the cultural history of the Shoals. Each tree is special, with unique decorations and out-of-the-ordinary ornaments.
The line-up of decorators this year includes Shoals Christian School, Natchez Trace Parkway Association, Franklin County and City of Russellville Bicentennial Committee, The Roy Herston Family, Tennessee Valley Educational Talent Search at Northwest-Shoals Community College, Kathy Gamble, Colbert & Franklin Co. 4-H Program, Martha Couch and Russellville Elementary 5th Grade Class.
Buffie Ozbirn, who will be decorating for the Franklin County and City of Russellville Bicentennial Committee, said this will be her third time decorating a tree, going back to her first time decorating one when she was in high school.
“I like that you get to represent your theme and I try to make ours educational too,” she said. “You have to gather everything and have it all suit a theme, I really enjoy that process and of course we love to share our work. We’re so excited about our bicentennial and can’t wait to share it.”
Shoals Christian’s theme is One Holy Night and their tree will focus on the story of the nativity. Natchez Trace Parkway Association are calling their tree Tracing the Journey of Southern Discovery, which will reflect the history, culture, nature and fitness opportunities provided by the Trace. The Roy Herston Family of Rogersville will have the theme of Cooking Up a Merry Christmas, reflecting their Christmas traditions.
Tennessee Valley Educational Talent Search at Northwest-Shoals Community College’s tree will be called College Bound and represent the trips and opportunities their students have had this past year. Kathy Gamble will be decorating her tree in memory of Mrs. Virginia Gamble, and will call it She is Far More Precious Than Jewels.
Colbert & Franklin Co. 4-H Program’s tree will be called 200 Years of Alabama 4-H, and reflect the history and traditions of their program. Russellville Elementary 5th Grade Students will be making recycled decorations for their tree called From Trash to Treasure. And Martha Couch will be decorating a tree called Wish You Were Here using her collection of vintage postcards and Christmas cards.
Media Release/Bobby Bozeman, Marketing and program development/Tennessee Valley Art Association
