Shafer Art Gallery draws crowd for Holiday Open House
December 10, 2012
Story and photos by Brandon Steinert
Video by Julie Munden
Christmas season symbolism was epitomized Sunday afternoon at the Shafer Art Gallery’s annual Holiday Open House, which featured more than a dozen Christmas trees, two electric train sets complete with miniature villiages, live holiday music from Native American musician John Two-Hawks and the big man in red himself – Santa Claus.
Gallery Director Dave Barnes said the event drew more than 300 guests.
“It was very well attended,” Barnes said. “We also received a lot of positive feedback on John Two-Hawks’ performance.”
Carol Woodmansee of Great Bend said she has visited the Festival of Trees exhibit since it started more than a decade ago. This year she enjoyed seeing the work of her grandchildren, as they helped to create ornaments to decorate one of the trees, all of which were decorated by local youths.
“It’s just wonderful,” she said. “It’s good for school kids to participate, and I enjoy the entertainment.”
The Shafer Gallery’s regular hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. The exhibit will run through December 18 and the gallery will close for the holidays, however, group tours are available by request. Contact Barnes at barnesd@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9342. Admission is free.
Luke McCormick investigates the handiwork of his daughter Haley and her classmates, who made ornaments to decorate one of the many Christmas trees in the Shafer Art Gallery. “I think this is fantastic,” Luke said of the show. “The kids get excited to decorate the trees and can’t wait to show us what they did.”
