December 9, 2014
Story by Joe Vinduska
All ages can get a dose of the holiday spirit at The Shafer Art Gallery’s “Holiday Open House” reception from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, which will feature a free puppet show from Kansas City’s Clement McCrae Puppet Shows at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
The event is packed with the following attractions:
- “Festival of Trees” exhibit featuring Christmas trees decorated by area school children.
- Clement McCrae Professional Puppet Shows
- Holiday music and catered refreshments
- Model Christmas village
- Felt art-board for children to create Christmas settings and scenes
- Display of historical trains collected by the Golden Belt Model Railroad Association including a working train set that attendees can operate
- The St. Justa Ceramics Guild will have items for sale
- Santa Claus will also be on hand with treats; ready to listen to children’s Christmas wishes
- The Gallery’s award winning quilts exhibit, “New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Caroline Lily,” sponsored by the National Quilt Museum, will also be on display
Gallery Director Dave Barnes said having the puppet show in the gallery is very special and a great opportunity for the community to see a first-class show.
“This year we are bringing an ancient art form to the Shafer Gallery,” he said. “Puppetry has been around since the beginnings of human culture. I am very excited to have the chance to share with our community the performance of a very fine puppet theater. They are vetted with the Missouri Arts Council as one of their preferred touring groups. All educational value aside, who can resist dancing poodle marionettes?”
Barnes said the entire holiday exhibit is perfect for all ages.
“The entire affair is designed to engage every member of the family on some level,” he said. “It’s a wonderful place to bring family and friends who will be visiting during the holidays and just a great way to get the season started. It’s really our opportunity to interact with the community, and I love the way so many different parts of our community come together to celebrate Christmas at the Shafer.”
The event will also feature the unveiling of the Shafer Gallery’s educational kiosk, which is an interactive tool designed to help illustrate the casting process used by the Gallery’s namesake Gus Shafer to create his famous bronze statues.
Admission is free. The exhibit will be available through December 20. The Gallery is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1-5 p.m. Sundays.