One of Owensboro’s oldest holiday traditions, the 44th Holiday Forest Festival of Trees, will usher in the local Christmas season with a holiday online auction and virtual tour on Saturday.
The auction is scheduled to run though Dec. 14. The auction offers more than 40 lots of fine jewelry, original paintings, decorative arts and collectibles and can be accessed through the museum’s website at omfa.us.
Special items include a 14K gold bangle bracelet with 105 precious and semi-precious stones appraised at $5,500; a 2.5 carat sapphire ring surrounded by 37 diamonds appraised at $6,000; and a 2.58 carat pink sapphire and diamond ring with an appraised value of $4,500.
The festival is highlighted by two exhibitions: The Holiday Forest, featuring 15 monumental Christmas trees designed by local artists, florists and civic organizations; and Iconic Images: Portraits in Fiber, a solo exhibition by Penny Sisto, the region’s noted fiber artist.
Sisto’s exhibition features 60 textile works by the southern Indiana artist and reflects her advocacy for social justice and peace.
The Sisto exhibition will continue through Feb. 14, 2021.
The Holiday Forest Festival of Trees will be open to the public through Dec. 31. An addition to the 2020 festival is a virtual tour of the exhibitions offered online during the holiday season. It features trees from the museum’s Permanent Collection.
The holiday exhibition is the only time the museum charges an admission fee, which is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
