News

VSA Tennessee Creates Ornaments for the National Christmas Tree

By Krishna Adams, Director of Visual Arts, Craft, Media and Design —

VSA makes Christmas Ornaments
Santa (Andrew Dix), Krishna Adams and Hannah Holladay

VSA Tennessee was honored to once again be asked to make the ornaments that represent Tennessee for the National Christmas Tree. On Monday, October 17, those ornaments were made in partnership with the MTSU Organizational Communication Communities class, students from the Tennessee School for the Blind, past participants of VSA TN programs and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Artistic direction was by Yvette Cowden and the theme was an Appalachian folk Christmas.

The workshop was filled with smiling creative students — it almost sounds like the beginning of a Christmas tale, and in a way, it is.

VSA Tennessee coordinated a thoughtful and fun-filled workshop that would make Santa and his elves proud. In fact, Santa was there and personally greeted each student with a hand shake and little chat. A crackling fire was projected on the screen, tasty snacks were enjoyed  and holiday music was piped in to allow for multiple sensory experiences to get everyone in the mood.

Even though the temps outside were over 80 degrees, the volunteers got in the spirit by wearing holiday sweaters and holiday colors. Combining multiple three-dimensional objects, many of which were texture rich, along with colorful holiday trimmings, students built ornaments that captured the imagination. Throughout the workshop I was continually impressed with the creativity expressed through the original county-craft inspired ornaments.

One of the 2016 ornaments
One of the 2016 ornaments

The unique ornaments will be delivered to Washington D.C. in time to be added to the 2016 national Christmas tree. For more information about VSA Tennessee, click here.