Public art project to showcase holidays
First, the "Keys" stood tall, then, they had a "Ball," and now, the Frederick Arts Council is going green.
The council announced its next project on Wednesday: the Frederick Festival of Greens. From Nov. 21-29, more than 200 decorated artificial wreaths and trees will be on display at the Frederick Arts Council's Cultural Arts Center at 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, for visitors to view and bid on through a silent auction. The display will coincide with several free performances, holiday movies and other events, according to Frederick Arts Council Executive Director, Shuan Butcher.
"This will be a nice, new addition to the holiday celebrations in Frederick," Butcher said, noting that the festival coincides with the annual "Frosty Friday" event in downtown Frederick. "… This is another great way for the community to participate in art and is truly a festival, a celebration."
Similar to the keys and baseballs, everyone is invited to decorate a wreath or create one from materials of their own. Unlike the two previous events, however, businesses are welcome to use corporate logos and items – such as gift certificates – on their wreaths and there is no registration fee for any entry. Participants cover the expense of all materials used for their creations.
"Everything is up for interpretation," Butcher said. "That is where the artistic point of view and creativity come into play … We are anxious to see what people submit and put together."
Individuals must complete and return a registration form with their wreath or tree by 5 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 14. Items submitted by Oct. 30 will be displayed at the Cultural Arts Center on Nov. 1 as part of Frederick's "First Saturday" celebration.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the council's grant programs that help fund arts groups across Frederick County. The "Keys to Frederick" raised more than $40,000 and as of Tuesday, the "Art's A Ball" project has netted $2,600 with baseballs still up for sale at $20 each at the council's building.
There will also be prizes for several categories of wreaths identified at a later date.
Heading the committee for the festival is Leslie Ruby, a four-year Frederick Arts Council Board of Directors member who works at Frederick Community College. Ruby attended a similar event last year in Westminster held by the Carroll County Arts Council dubbed "Festival of Wreaths," which provided inspiration.
"It is like the keys and the baseballs," Ruby said. "It's another way to look at art that is there in our everyday lives and also a way to increase visibility for those [decorating] the wreaths."