CHRISTMAS THE NATURAL (STATE) WAY

LR school’s ornaments hang out in Washington, D.C.

 tree from Arkansas is one of 56 Christmas trees from each state and territory that surround the national Chirstmas tree at the White House in Washington. Arkansas’ tree, which was sponsored by students from Rockefeller Elementary, includes ornaments made by Sharon Boyd-Struthers. The focus of the tree is the social and economic strides made in the state by Gov. Wintrhop Rockefeller, a Republican who was the state’s chief executive from 1967-1971.
tree from Arkansas is one of 56 Christmas trees from each state and territory that surround the national Chirstmas tree at the White House in Washington. Arkansas’ tree, which was sponsored by students from Rockefeller Elementary, includes ornaments made by Sharon Boyd-Struthers. The focus of the tree is the social and economic strides made in the state by Gov. Wintrhop Rockefeller, a Republican who was the state’s chief executive from 1967-1971.

— Some gifted young Little Rock artists are sharing handmade holiday ornaments and a brief Arkansas history lesson with the nation’s capital this month.

The Christmas ornaments, created by students at Rockefeller Elementary School, adorn one of the 56 evergreen trees on the Christmas Pathway of Peace. Besides celebrating the season, the clear plastic orbs also pay tribute to the school’s namesake, the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, on the centennial of his birth.

Rockefeller, the grandsonof billionaire John D. Rockefeller, was born in New York City and died in Palm Springs, Calif. But he spent 20 years living in Arkansas, donating time and millions of dollars trying to boost the state’s schools, strengthen its economy, safeguard its environment and repair the damage done by civil-rights opponents. In 1966, Arkansans elected him governor - the first Republican to win the post since the Reconstruction era after the Civil War.

The Arkansas ornaments were made to resemble snowglobes and recognize the former governor’sachievements, according to Sharon Boyd-Struthers, an arts specialist at Rockefeller Elementary.

They depict winter scenes including miniature trees.

“The trees are [made of] recycled matte board, tooling metal and plastic gemstones,” Boyd-Struthers said.

Third-, fourth- and fifthgraders, many of them members of the school’s art club, assembled the pieces.

When hot-glued to the tree, the colored gemstones resemble Christmas lights. Each tree is crowned by a tiny Arkansas crystal.

Instead of artificial snow, the globes contain shredded Mylar balloons and tiny bits of iridescent cellophane.

The art supplies are cheap. Boyd-Struthers monitors local thrift shops, looking for affordable items.

Many of Rockefeller’s students come from lower-income families and Boyd-Struthers doesn’t want a lack of financial resources to prevent her students from displaying their creativity.

“I’m a big believer in recycling and repurposing, letting kids know it doesn’t have to come from an expensive arts store [to be beautiful],” she said.

Each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and a handful of territories, has a tree on the Pathway of Peace, a walkway surrounding the National Christmas Tree.

Each state has a different theme. Texas’ ornaments, for example, are decorated with birds. California’s ornaments are meant to evoke the 1960s - they’re covered with peace signs, hearts, sunshine and stars.

Each of the trees is near the Ellipse, across the street from the White House, and thousands of tourists stream by each December to admire the displays.

Rockefeller students made the ornaments in the fall. The art activities were supplemented by lessons on Gov. Rockefeller, Washington, D.C., and the National Christmas tree.

Boyd-Struthers and her art students weren’t able to travel to Washington to see their work.

But they’re able to view it online at thenationaltree. org/visit-santa/pathway-ofpeace/.

“They never cease to amaze me,” Boyd-Struthers said of her students.

Rockefeller Elementary Principal Janice Wilson said she’s grateful that her school was nominated to represent Arkansas in Washington.

She credits the Arkansas Arts Council with facilitating it all.

“I’m not quite sure how it came about. Truthfully, it was just a big blessing from the sky,” she said. “I just hope that everyone is as proud of them as we are here, because it was a great honor.”

For Rockefeller Elementary, this has been a holiday season to remember, Boyd-Struthers said, adding: “Every day’s been a miracle for us.”

Front Section, Pages 1 on 12/25/2012

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