Arkansas students hand craft ornaments to accompany the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

Washington Middle School Studio Art Classes and Maria Villegas' Visual Arts Classes Ages 11-17 at The South Arkansas Arts Center, in El Dorado, Arkansas, participated in a project where students made ornaments to hang on the Arkansas Christmas tree at the White House. Students from different cultural and economic backgrounds, as well as cognitive abilities, designed and created ornaments using colored pencils, paper, markers, and glitter. Students crafted their designs on circular mat-boards to represent the wonderful natural resources in Arkansas. Jorge and Maria Villegas, multidisciplinary AIE artists, directed this project. They have taught for more than 30 years in public school systems and people with disabilities centers, thanks to matching grants from the Arkansas Arts Council and SAAC.

Washington Middle School is honored to have Jorge and Maria work with our students and with Mrs. Katie Harwell to make this amazing project come to life!

Check out some of the finished ornaments below.