photo by Geri McShane

This wreath, titled “Who Said Christmas?” is one of the 42 wreaths on display and for sale in Gallery 2 at the Albert Lea Art Center.

Art Center visitors will find not only trees, but wreaths too

By Geri McShane | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Albert Lea Art Center’s Festival of Trees includes a new element this year.

While decorated theme trees fill the larger of the Art Center’s two galleries, the second is filled with one-of-a-kind wreaths.

There are 42 wreaths, made and donated by members and friends of the Albert Lea Art Center.

All the wreaths are titled and include the artist’s name on the tag. The wreaths are often a statement of the interests and hobbies of the people who made them, said organizer Marty Shepard.

“They’re all works of art,” she said.

Some of the titles include: “Hangin’ ‘til the Hols,” “Hitting the Slopes,” “Toy Story,” “Christmas Is for the Kids,” “Birdhouse in Paradise,” “Forever Christmas,” “Smitten with Mittens” and “Who Said Christmas?”

The wreaths in the gallery are all for sale. The event is a fundraiser for the Art Center.

“People can take them home with them right away,” Shepard said.

There are also a limited number of fresh wreaths in the gift shop for sale.

The wreath gallery is open during regular Art Center hours starting Friday. Regular gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

An opening wine and cheese reception for the Festival of Trees will take place from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday.