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Governor and First Lady Haslam’s 5th Annual Holiday Open House Begins Friday

Annual event invites visitors to tour the Tennessee Residence decorated for the holidays

Home-For-Holiday-Logo-2015

From Amanda K. Kerns, Office of the First Lady—

Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam will open the Tennessee Residence on Friday, December 4 for the 5th annual Tennessee’s Home for the Holidays. The free open house event invites Tennesseans to tour the executive residence decorated for the holidays with self-guided tours offered Monday through Saturday, December 4-17. Guests may reserve a time to visit on the First Lady’s website.

“Crissy and I look forward to the open house every December,” Governor Haslam said. “It’s a great way for families to celebrate the Christmas season at a place that is significant for all Tennesseans.”

This year, the decoration theme is “Tennessee Craft,” highlighting the work of outstanding Tennessee artisans. In partnership with the Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennessee Craft, the First Lady’s office worked with artists across the state who have loaned their work for the two-week open house.

Original art in a variety of mediums including clay, fiber, glass, wood and metal will decorate the trees and mantels in the Tennessee Residence. In Conservation Hall the trees will be decorated with ornaments crafted by students who participated in art camps across the state this past summer. The craft pieces will be supplemented with complimenting ornaments and decoration from Jim Marvin Collection, based in Dickson, Tennessee. Marvin is known internationally for his holiday design and has assisted in decorating the White House for the holidays since 1997.

“Tennessee has a rich craft history that has been passed down from one generation to the next. There are talented artisans across the state creating one-of-kind treasures,” First Lady Haslam said. “Handmade traditions can be lost if they are not appreciated. This year’s open house celebrates Tennessee craft as an important part of our state heritage.”

First Lady Haslam visited artists, studios, art centers and galleries around the state this summer to learn more about craft traditions in Tennessee. She is also serving as honorary chair for Tennessee Craft’s 50th Anniversary in 2015, celebrating 50 years of preserving and advancing Tennessee craft.

Corporate sponsors SunTrust Foundation and Tennessee Valley Authority are helping to provide the open house event at no cost to the public.

Click for Tennessee’s Home for the Holidays participating artists

Bryce Brisco, ceramics artist, Silver Point
Olen Bryant, sculptor, Cottontown
Ben Caldwell, metalsmith & sculptor, Nashville
Bill Capshaw, ceramics artist, Oak Ridge
Malvina Carrera & Angela Webb, jewelry makers
Rafael Casco, papier mache artist, Knoxville
Raydarr Craig, walking stick maker, Sewanee
Lundy Cupp, sculptor & carver, Kingston Springs
Alan Daigre, furniture maker, Readyville
David Dansby, quilter, Centerville
Karla Deal, copper artist, Nashville
Joe Deanda, glass artist, Dollywood theme park
Hattie Duncan, papier mache sculptor, Jackson
Richard Dwyer, wood turner, Johnson City
Virginia Fisher, copper artist, Memphis
Anne Freels, corn shuck doll maker, Oak Ridge
Celia Garduno, needle worker, Chattanooga
Johnny Glass, glass artist, Smithville
Melodie Grace, ceramics artist, Nashville
Amy Hand, ceramics artist, Knoxville
Prentice Hicks – glass artist, Chattanooga
Scott Hodes, glass artist, Nashville
Jennifer Hyatt, metal sculptor, Memphis
Lisa Jennings, painter and sculptor, Nashville
Wes Jordan, ceramics artist, Springfield
John Lucas, wood turner, Sparta
Damon MacNaught, glass artist, Silver Point
Jack Martin, broom maker, Selmer
Anthony Martin, blacksmith, Fairview
Matt McAllister, ceramics artist, Mt. Pleasant
Randy McCurdy, glass artist, Wartace
Jane McGinnis-Glynn, ceramics artist, Bethpage
Linda McLaughlin, copper artist, Franklin
Tammy O’Connor, stained glass artist, Shelbyville
Polly Page, doll maker, Pleasant Hill
Susan Parry, glass artist, Signal Mountain
Donna Rizzo, ceramics artist, Charlotte
Victoria Rose, glass painter, Dollywood theme park
Hector Saldivar, papier mache artist, Knoxville
Matt Salley, glass artist, Knoxville
Phil Schmidt, wood carver, Memphis
John Sellberg, ceramics artist, Nashville
David Sharp, wood carver, Smithville
Roger Smith, peach seed carver, Culleoka
Thomas Spake, glass artist, Chattanooga
Brenda Stein, wood turner, Nashville
Jeanie Stephenson, metal artist, Decherd
Chris Szaton, glass artist, Dollywood theme park
Niles Wallace, ceramics artist, Memphis