Holiday Wonderland
by Amy Roberts
A magical winter wonderland of wreaths and trees transforms the architectural
spaces of the Nantucket Whaling Museum into an enchanted holiday
forest throughout Nantucket's winter holiday season.
Festival of Wreaths
Beginning with the NHA Festival of Wreaths, a free community event held
the week of Thanksgiving in the Peter Foulger Gallery of the Whaling
Museum, this event displays the artistic talent of more than 80 community
members who create and design wreaths for a silent auction that benefits the
Nantucket Historical Association (NHA). Each wreath is a unique interpretation
of the classic holiday decoration, revealing the inventive flare and profound
individuality that epitomize Nantucketers themselves. From traditionally
decorated green wreaths to wreaths designed from silk ties, origami
cranes, and even Crayola crayons, the Festival of Wreaths truly celebrates this
island's creative diversity. The 2012 Festival of Wreaths is held November 21-
25 (closed Thanksgiving Day).
"The Festival of Wreaths is a real community of people that includes all
aspects of Nantucket," says Judi Hill, who chairs the Festival of Wreaths with
her husband Greg. "So many organizations on Nantucket create wreaths and
tell the story of their work through it. Among the creativity, there is a fun,
competitive aspect to the Festival of Wreaths as well: everyone enjoys seeing
what everyone else has created."
In support of the NHA's mission and educational programs, wreath
designers create and donate their works of art for the Festival of Wreaths
silent auction. The auction takes place throughout the four days of the festival,
providing attendees with ample opportunities to visit and revisit their
favorite wreath to increase their bid. Winning bidders are announced on the
last day of the Festival, Sunday November 25, at 2:30 P.M.
"I love being creative and I push myself to do something different that
people haven't seen before," says long-time Festival of Wreaths designer Beth
Moyer. "It's challenging to come up with different materials and looks each
year, and I love finding an unexpected material and turning it into a beautiful
wreath. It was the creativity that got me started the first year, but it's the challenge
of always coming up with something new that keeps me coming back
year after year….This year I made my wreath out of dried milkweed pods."
Festival of Trees
By stroll weekend, the Whaling Museum will be transformed into a woodland
of more than 80 trees that are decorated and designed by local merchants,
nonprofit organizations, community members, school children and
artists for the 19th Annual NHA Festival of Trees. On display throughout
December, this magical atmosphere captures the heart of the holidays. Tree
designers offer their talent for the enjoyment and inspiration of each visitor
and infuse their art and energy with the spirit of the season. Some designers
decorate traditional green trees with ornamental themes, while others build
their own tree or create holiday vignettes. Like the Festival of Wreaths, the
Festival of Trees encapsulates Nantucket's enterprising spirit of individuality, art, and a nod toward beauty. The Festival of Trees is free for all NHA members
and children under 6, $5 for year-round island residents, and $17 for
other adults.
"The Festival of Trees is the essence of Christmas and it is a fantastic way
to kick off the season on Nantucket," says Jack Fritsch, 2011 and 2012 chair
of the Festival of Trees, with his wife Ciara. "It brings out the best in everyone."
Not only have the Fritschs chaired the festival for the last two years,
they have been annual tree and vignette designers as well. In 2011, the
Fritschs designed "20,000 Leagues under the Sea," which featured Santa as a
deep sea diver suspended from the ceiling of the Whaling Museum, reaching
down under the sea to place a star atop the tree. The vignette was completed
with a myriad of seas creatures, including starfish, lobsters, and oysters,
all ready to receive their Christmas gifts.
For Nantucket architect Mark Cutone, "the Festival of Trees is a wonderful
opportunity for local businesses and organizations to contribute something
creative that expresses who they are. Each tree is often a bit of a surprise
and I enjoy seeing the crowds take that moment to understand the
theme — it often results in a smile or even a laugh." Regarding his designs, Cutone says, "We like retro themes that people can relate to. Our tree installations
are really vignettes that invite attendees to participate - they may even
sit with us a while and feel as though they were propelled back 30-40 years."
The creativity is truly an awe-inspiring experience that seems to increase
annually. While some designers have used gardening equipment, paper, and
even beer bottles to form a tree, many designers develop a unique theme in
decorating a traditional evergreen tree. Karen Elverson decorates a tree each
year with a group of friends who have been having lunch together for 17
years. Elverson says, "My personal favorite tree we decorated was called "Sirens of the Sea". All the ladies brought mermaids, shells, blue lights and
sea creatures to use as decorations. I made a large sparkly mermaid as our
tree topper."
In the midst of the Festival of Wreaths, A Night of Holiday Magic is held
in the Whaling Museum on December 15 from 5-8 P.M. This family event
invites the community to experience the sight and sounds of the holiday season
with the melodic sounds of carols performed by the Nantucket High
School Accidentals and Naturals singing group, holiday crafts, and seasonal
treats. Tree designers whose talents are featured in the NHA's Festival of
Trees will also be on-hand to guide the creation of ornaments and other
crafts. A Night of Holiday Magic is free for children and $5 for accompanying
adults.
"What better way to celebrate the holiday season than in the company of
family and friends surrounded by the sights, sounds, and treats of A Night of
Holiday Magic," says Melissa Kershaw, Outreach & Public Programs
Coordinator for the NHA. "This family-friendly event combines beautifully
decorated display of the Festival of Trees with music, dance performances,
arts and crafts for the whole family, and seasonal delights. A Night of Holiday
Magic is quickly becoming a cherished holiday tradition on Nantucket and we
look forward to sharing the magic with our friends again this year."
For more information about the Festival of Wreaths, the Festival of Trees,
and A Night of Holiday Magic, please visit www.nha.org or call 508-228-1894.
