Fresh-cut evergreens are being secured to the top of SUVs and tiny sedans, boxes of ornaments are being hauled out of storage. As homes are getting decked out for the holidays, some Chicago-area institutions are already showcasing the season’s flashy decor.
Holiday Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute
Six of the tiny interiors, which depict furnishings from many time periods, have been adorned for the first time with holiday decorations created by artisans from around the world. The teeny, tiny trimmings tell the visual stories of the diverse celebrations of the winter holidays.
An old etching of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children around their decorated Christmas tree set atop a table inspired the decoration of the English Victorian drawing room. “This image of the royal family popularized the Christmas tree, and from that day forward it was a must-have for holiday celebrations,” said Lindsay Mican Morgan, curator of the Thorne Miniature Rooms.
The desserts spread on a table for the wassailing celebration in the English Tudor room includes an almond cake and sugared fruits and nuts created by an Italian artist. For the French Provincial bedroom from the second half of the 18th century, Morgan carved the small wooden clogs that children put out at Christmastime in hopes they would be filled with gifts. The traditional Chinese room, decorated for the Chinese New Year, is decked out with banners, strings of firecrackers and a bowl of tangerines, believed to bring good luck.
The 1940s-style California hallway is ready for Hanukkah with a menorah patterned on one by acclaimed ceramic artist Otto Natzler. “We considered doing latkes with sour cream and apple sauce, but it was too much beige-ness,” Morgan said. “Maybe next year we’ll do doughnuts.” Yes, there will be a next year, because the Art Institute plans to make the holiday rooms a tradition.
Holiday Thorne Miniature Rooms continue through Jan. 8, with the Chinese New Year decorations remaining through Feb. 3. During Holly Days, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 27-30, children can create a diorama, among other activities. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; $18 adults, $12 children 14 and older, free younger than 14; 312-443-3600; artic.edu
Holiday windows at Macy’s
The department store strays from stories that are familiar to children for the 43rd annual version of animated holiday window displays. In the past, children have ogled scenes from fairy tales, favorite books or Hollywood movies, but this year the theme is “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus,” inspired by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s 1897 written query about the existence of Santa Claus to the editor of the New York Sun and the response by newsman Francis P. Church. The story is depicted in seven scenes that begin in Virginia’s bedroom, which is decorated with paper chains she has made.
Jon Jones, Macy’s visual director, said the methods for creating the displays are new. Many of the items in the scenes were fashioned by paper artists who made the wall coverings in Virginia’s room, the quilt on her bed and table surfaces that appear to have a wood grain.
“They are all made out of individual pieces of paper that are layered to create a textured, 3-D effect,” Jones said. “Paper art is a handmade technique that ties in closely with the traditional story.” But the displays also include elements for kids who are used to living in a high-tech environment — like small LCD TV screens showing videos such as one of Virginia writing her letter to the editor. But no doubt children will be particularly mesmerized by the animated characters and especially the evergreen tree that is decorated as if by magic.
“Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” continues through Jan. 10 at Macy’s, 111 N. State St.; macys.com/events
The Wonderland Express at Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual exhibit of model trains, which travels past mini replicas of Chicago landmarks fashioned out of plant materials, has a major addition this year to honor a landmark victory. The Blackhawks won the coveted Stanley Cup at the end of the 2009-10 season, so a diminutive version of the real trophy, which weighs more than 30 pounds, was created for the train exhibit. Beth Lasky, a botanic architect with Applied Imagination in Kentucky, studied photos of the Stanley Cup before picking the plant material to create the mini one. She used cork bark to re-create the numerous stacked rings.
“I think it captures the chunky feel of the base,” Lasky said. She also used eucalyptus pod, burr oak and acorn caps and chose the husk of a tulip-shaped baby coconut to make the cup. The resulting small-scale trophy is 61/2 inches tall.
“The Stanley Cup is an iconic object that is so big and massive so I used different colors and textures to achieve that effect,” says Lasky.
Wonderland Express continues through Jan. 2 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe; $10 adults, $8 children ages 3-12, 2 and younger free; 847-835-5440, chicagobotanic.org/wonderland
Holiday windows at American Girl Place
Various aspects of the holiday season are animated in two windows at the popular shopping destination for fans of American Girl dolls. In one of them a snow-covered village features a boutique and a pet shop whose doors pop open to reveal the fashions and beloved animals inside, while animated dolls do a little dance. The other window has three animated shadow boxes portraying activities girls enjoy. One is a baking scene, another a slumber party and a third a recital.
Dolls gathered around a miniature pink tree are decorating it for Christmas. Visual director Barb Carlson says, “For children, the holidays are full of so much wonder and anticipation and we try to capture that in our windows.”
The holiday village scene continues through Dec. 25, shadow box window through Jan. 1. American Girl Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave.; 877-247-5223; americangirl.com
