A Christmas tree designed by two Oxford teachers and decorated by Oxford High School’s advanced art students recently netted more than $1,500 for charity at the 20th annual Festival of Trees Nov. 21-28.
Proceeds from the fund-raising event held at Dearborn’s Ford Motor Co. Convention and Event Center benefitted Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Evergreen Endowment Fund for Pediatric Research, which is dedicated to researching the causes of childhood diseases and finding cures.
Among the 100 professionally-decorated Christmas trees that were on display and for sale was a seven-foot tannenbaum bearing about a dozen life-sized red cardinals, 1,900 white, red and green lights and 20 blue bulb-shaped ornaments featuring outdoor winter scenes hand-painted by OHS art teacher Becky Ziemianski’s advanced art class.
Ziemianski and fellow OHS teacher Elizabeth Davis designed the tree ? the theme of which was ‘Winter Wonderland? ? and spent 10 hours setting it up for display.
This is the third time in four years Ziemianski has involved her students in the charity tree event.
‘Most of the teachers here at Oxford get their kids involved in some sort of charity for the holidays,? Ziemianski said. ‘I was looking for something that would allow students to be creative and artistic ? something to let their talents come out ? while helping others . . . Helping kids is something the students really relate to.?
‘Of all the projects in which we are involved, the Festival (of Trees) is a favorite among my students,? Ziemianski added. The ‘inspiration and motivation? for it ‘come naturally.?
While many of the Christmas trees at the festival are designed by professionals with generous budgets, Ziemianski’s art students must rely solely on their creativity, talent and available materials.
Ziemianski said she and her students ‘don’t view the festival as a competition,? but rather ‘an academic exercise in which we can take an extra bit of pride.?
Tree prices range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the materials used and the work involved in decorating them. Any trees that aren’t sold go directly to the kids at Children’s Hospital to enhance their holiday season.
Ziemianski said last year’s tree, which featured clay angels crafted by her students, didn’t sell and went to the hospital. But that didn’t bother her students a bit.
‘We begin with the idea that we are designing a tree that (will) brighten the holidays for someone that has to spend them in the hospital,? she said. ‘If it doesn’t sell, we know it’s still going to a place where it will do some good.?
Scot Cole contributed to this article.