The Owensboro Museum of Fine Arts will launch its annual Holiday Forest Festival of Trees this Saturday with a preview gala. This marks the 47th year of the event, which features two exhibitions —”The Forest of Trees” and “Magical Realism.”
The gala will feature holiday cuisine and entertainment by the Louisville Jazz Trio. Admission is $50 per person, discounted to $40 for subscribers to the OMFA Friends of the Foundation. Attendees can reserve a spot by contacting the museum at 270-685-3181 or [email protected].
“The Holiday Forest Festival of Trees” will remain on view through December 31, with general admission beginning November 12 at $3 for adults and $2 for children.
“The Forest of Trees” features 20 monumental Christmas trees designed to interpret “Magical Realism,” a collection of paintings celebrating cultures worldwide. The Glenmore Distillery has been the sole sponsor of the exhibitions since their inception in 1977.
“’Magical Realism’ is an exhibition of 40 monumental paintings by Michael Aakhus, Dean Emeritus, College of Liberal Arts, University of Southern Indiana, inspired by his decades of world travel,” a release from OMFA reads. “As a professor of art, he is considered a scholar of the ancient art of Mesoamerica and South America. A special exhibition aspect is a series of paintings based on his research and study of these cultures.”
Aakhus is a recognized printmaker, bookmaker, and poet who has exhibited widely in the U.S. and abroad.
“The Forest of Trees” includes trees situated through the museum’s three wings, themed to interpret the countries in Aakhus’ collection of paintings. It features archeological and architectural sites, including Peru’s Machu Picchu, Mexico’s ancient monuments, and classical cathedral structures globally.
Featured cultural traditions include Mexico’s “Day of the Dead,” Peruvian markets, and South American dance celebrations.
“Contributors of trees inspired by these diverse cultures include the Owensboro Herb Society, Burns Middle School, St. Stephen Cathedral, and the Woven Together in Western Kentucky Basket Guild,” the release reads. “A special feature of ‘The Forest of Trees’ is a showcase of designs by Gary Tunget, who has decorated all the galleries of the Medley Decorative Arts Wing. His exhibits include five trees complementing the era of the historic structure, one of Owensboro’s finest examples of Greek Revival architecture, erected in 1859.”
“The Holiday Forest” also features a Kentucky Department of Tourism-sponsored mini-exhibition on loan from the Rosemary Clooney House Collection and includes posters advertising the 1950s musical classic, “White Christmas,” featuring Clooney, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Vera Ellen.
Attending children can experience free art instruction in the museum’s interactive art studio, ARTLAND, where they can craft holiday decorations for their homes. ARTLAND is free to patrons during museum hours, thanks to a sponsorship from the Michael E. Horn Foundation.
The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art is located at 9th and Frederica streets and is open Tuesday through Friday from 12-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. For more information, call 270-685-3181 or visit the museum’s website, omfa.us.
