POMPERAUG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATE TREE FOR MATTATUCK MUSEUM’S FESTIVAL OF TREES AND TRADITIONS

     The art students at Region 15’s Mary I. Johnson School created and submitted a decorated tree to the Mattatuck Museum’s 15^th Annual Festival of Trees and Traditions. The nine-day event is a fundraiser for the museum to support its public and educational programs. This year’s themes were “Winter Wonderland” and/or “Holiday Toyland.”

     “The students collaborated to come up with their theme of the children’s classic, The Polar Express,” said art teacher Stewart Wilson. “While the other trees at the Festival were artificial, our tree was crafted out of chicken wire and papier mache. It was truly one of the most unique trees at the event.”

     Over 150 decorators, designers, school and community groups submitted themed wreaths, trees, and boxes.

     "We really worked together to come up with the theme,” said Sara. “We looked at the book’s pictures and saw that we had a lot of things to draw from. We also thought that since the animated movie is new, our tree would be the only one with this theme.”

     The students worked alone and in teams to craft the tree.

     “Just to name a few names: Monique F. and Maria A. designed the signs, Amanda F. and Emily R. worked on the whistle, Marco D. made the wolf, Chris H. worked on the penguins, Ryan G. made the conductor, and Heidi P. made the bell,” said Mr. Wilson. “And everyone did the papier mache and painted the tree.”

     Festival participants could choose whether to create a tree or wreath, or fill a gift box. The tree and its decorations must be artificial due to fire codes at the museum. Visitors to the Festival of Trees and Traditions could purchase the decorated trees, wreaths, and boxes to benefit the museum.