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Hatteras artists and young people create ornaments for National Christmas Tree display  Studio
12 in Avon has been chosen to design and create the ornaments for North
Carolina’s tree for the 2011 National Christmas Tree display in
President’s Park in Washington, D.C., the National Park Foundation
announced recently. A local artist and local youth were selected from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia to design and create 24 ornaments. Twenty-three of the ornaments will be hung from the state or territory tree as part of the National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park. One of the ornaments will decorate the White House Visitor Center Christmas tree, which showcases one ornament from all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. “It would be an honor to participate in this project in any year, but our selection this year is especially poignant because families on our island are still recovering from damage sustained when Hurricane Irene moved through the state in late August,” said artist Carolyn Schena, who owns Studio 12 with her husband Gary.  The Schenas will work with students from Locomotion, a youth organization providing activities for students at the Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies, to design and create clay ornaments that feature natural and cultural treasures found in coastal North Carolina. “The decorating of the state and territory trees in President’s Park is a highly anticipated holiday tradition,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We look forward to including the creations of Studio 12, representing North Carolina during the 89th annual celebration.” 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. Studio 12 will sell a limited edition of the ornaments with a percentage of the proceeds benefitting Locomotion. The website is www.studio12hatteras.com. |
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