Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Christmas Tree Exhibition!!!



O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
They are green when summer days are bright,
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!



O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

A Christmas Tree exhibition?! I couldn't miss it! I mean really, at only about a 50 minute drive, could you?
It's at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. An American Christmas runs until January 8th and it's pretty incredible and so creative!

Each tree represents a particular decade, beginning in the same decade as the Declaration of Independence. You cannot believe what they put on these trees! I don't have many distance shots in this post, because with my little "point and shoot" camera, you can't really see what anything is, from more than a few feet away.

There were so many "decorations" on each tree, reflecting what was going on in American society and the culture during a particular decade. (1700-2010) I basically picked the photos that weren't blurry since I wasn't using a flash. There was so much more than what I have shown here! You could go back over and over and notice something different every time.

1770-1779


1800-1809
Among other things, this tree (below) represented the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the country's size and the famous Lewis and Clark expedition which happened a year later.



I think this was the 1810-1819 tree, but I'm not sure. I just love having a wooden ship on a tree!



1830-1839 There was a lot of things going on this tree including Davey Crockett's coonskin hat, Sam Houston's portrait, references to the Alamo and the kindergarden movement.



I love the old book on the tree, with the rough woven ribbon ...



1840-1849
The frontier, westward movement, wagon trains and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, as well as works by Poe and Longfellow.



1860-1869
Included a copy of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's stovepipe hat and Emancipation proclamation.



1870-1879
The industrial Age ... a railroad boom, newly developing athletic sports like tennis and football and the establishment of Yellowstone Park.



1890-1899


1890-1899 The Ferris Wheel at the Chicago World's Fair, the establishment of Yosemite National Park .... the Happy Birthday melody ...


1900-1909
The Wright Brothers tested their Wright Flyer, Henry Ford introduced the model T, Sears Roebuck catalogs and mass production of things like Teddy bears, as well as a telephone and a newspaper with the tragedy of the San Francisco earthquake in the headlines ... all were represented on this tree.





1920-1929
The jazz Age, American prosperity, prohibition, Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh ...





1940-1949




1950-1959 with the 1960-1969 tree in the background ( Please click on photos to enlarge, for more detail!)



1960-1969



The photos to the left are veterans who volunteer as docents at the library ...



1970-1979


1980-1989
There were all sorts of things on this tree but I went with E.T.
;)



2000-2009


2010-2119 (Doesn't 2019 sound like forever away?)
Since we really don't know what the decade will look like, they put question marks on the tree and asked not only what will it look like when we look back but what do want it to look like?




What are your hopes and dreams for this decade?

What can we do to create it?



O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.





O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
Reminding me on Christmas Day
To think of you and then be gay.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.


English Lyrics Unknown Origin
(or a million origins)


Hope you are having an amazing week filled with holiday cheer!

And
Happy Hanukkah!


16 comments:

Kerry O'Gorman said...

What a fantastic idea! I love the work that was put into these...I probably would have spent hours looking and taking photos...I'm wishing for love and light...to you as well...

Parisbreakfasts said...

Absolutely WONDERFUL!
wish I could see it
merci carolg

Tammie Lee said...

that is an amazing amount of trees and history to present like that. sounds like you had a wonderful time! now to tell my friends in Simi, but they must know!

Lovely holidays to you!

German Banchio said...

I just wanted to thank you for all the comments received this year... which means a lot to me.
Hope you have a merry christmas (or Hanukkah) and a happy new year!

Cinzia said...

Merry Christmas to you from Italy!
Cinzia

Joyce said...

Beautiful trees. Happy Holidays my friend!!! Xo

Cobalt Violet said...

Kerry Thank you my friend!

Carol I wish you could see it too!

Tammie Lee I would think they would know, but just in case!!! ;)

Germán You are very welcome! My pleasure! and happy holidays to you too!

Cinzia Grazie! Buon Natale! :)

Joyce Happy Holidays to you too!!!

Suzanna said...

Thank you for posting about this amazing exhibit...and the Charlie Brown episode! Happy Season to you!

kostas said...

Merry Christmas,enjoy your holidays.
Regards from a sunny bu cold Thessaloniki.
kostas

Anonymous said...

C'est très intéressant et très joli, ce que tu nous montres là. Pour un Français qui ne connait pas les Etats Unis, c'est formidable de vivre un tel moment avec ce que tu nous expliques.
Je te souhaite un très joyeux Noël pour toi et tous ceux que tu aimes.

JANE MINTER said...

LUCINDA HAPPY CHRISTMAS ! BUON NATALE !

Tito said...

Ciao Cobalt Violet, I wish you and all your dears a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Hug! Tito.

CG Walters said...

Wonderful gift, my friend! Thank you.
blessings and peace this holiday season to you and your dear ones,
CG

Annie said...

What a great exhibit. Your photos are fantastic! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday!

Cobalt Violet said...

Suzanna. You're welcome! Happy season to you too!

Kostas Merry Christmas and keep warm! :)

Richard. I'm so glad! Merci et joyeux Noel!!

Jane buon Natale a te!!

Tito Thank you and much joy to you and yours this Christmas! Hugs back! :)

CG You're welcome. Blessings and peace to you and yours as well.

Annie. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

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