Auburn Arts Association is planning an exhibition called "ArTrees" in December.
The exhibition will feature Christmas trees decorated by Auburn residents and artists.
The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center on Drake Avenue is making artificial trees approximately 2-feet tall available for free now to those who want to decorate the trees.
"We are hoping to make this an annual event that will become one of our more popular shows," said Sara Hand, cultural arts director for the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department. "We like getting into the festive spirit for the holidays."
Local groups and community artists are encouraged to add an artistic twist to the holiday festivities by picking up a tree, decorating it and then returning it to the arts center so it can be part of the display during December.
The festive trees will be showcased in the art gallery of the community arts center.
The Parks and Recreation Department will be sponsoring the distribution of trees that will be picked up and festively designed.
Participants can decorate their trees any way they like and then submit them to the community arts center.
The trees will be used to create an artistic Christmas tree display during December.
Hand said artists can donate their trees to be sold to raise money for the Arts Association, donate half of the profits from the sale of the tree to the arts association or choose to keep them.
Trees must follow a theme, but there are no limitations as to what the theme may be.
Local artists can make a festive debut or make a continuing contribution to the artistic community of Auburn, Hand said.
The main focus of the exhibition is originality.
Participants are urged to use their imagination and get creative when they decorate their trees.
University students are encouraged to participate in the exhibition by exercising their creativity and creating a tree, Hand said.
"Something surreal and kind of freaky," said Kate Brueggemann, sophomore in general art, about the kind of tree she would decorate. "I'd definitely put a funky twist on something classic, maybe something by Dali."
Brueggemann also said art students can contribute to the exhibition by donating supplies or helping community groups with less experience.
As this is the first year of the exhibition, the hosts and sponsors are excited and hope to see a good turnout and continue such an exhibition for years to come, Hand said.
"It will definitely be a very unique and festive exhibition," Hand said.
Residents and artists are already able to pick up their trees.
The arts center asks that all decorated trees be submitted by Nov. 30 so that they can be put on display by Dec. 3.
The holiday exhibition will last two weeks, until Dec. 23.
The art gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is no charge for admission to the community arts center.
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