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Curated by Matthew D. Davids, administrator of art collections
Curator’s statement
Many of our favorite traditions and celebrations take place in winter. We gather with friends and families for holidays, to celebrate the successes and joys of the year and to toast the new year to come. You might have longstanding family traditions, but it is never too late to start something new.
Our latest exhibit, “A Winter Mood: Time for the Season,” ought to put you in the mood for winter as it quickly approaches. Take time to enjoy it and start getting into the winter spirit.
Whether you are traveling this year or staying home, we wish you safe travels and good health.
To celebrate the season
Exhibit spotlight
Larry Greer’s ‘Father Christmas’
Larry Greer was born January17, 1946, in Frederick, OK. Graduating from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1969, he taught high school art and drama in Yukon, OK, and later worked at Prentice-Hall Publishing Co. In 1976, he became a full-time artist and remained one until his death in 2005. Greer primarily used watercolors for his artwork, mixed with other media that included whiskey.
Greer used Father Christmas in his work year after year. Each Father Christmas in the exhibit is unique in its own way — clothing, pose and style.
Father Christmas
Father Christmas has been around for several centuries, originating in Europe in the 15th century. For much of the original myth, Father Christmas represented feasting and partying for adults, fading in and out of popularity and legality until the 19th century.
It was not until the mid-to-late 1800s that the myth of Father Christmas combined with the American Santa Claus, which had become known for giving children gifts.
Eventually, both Father Christmas and Santa Claus became one and the same, consisting of a larger man in a red, white-trimmed fur coat and hat.
Winter Traditions
Everyone keeps traditions, and they seem to be more prevalent at this time of the year. While some traditions, like those at Christmas or Thanksgiving, span nations, some traditions seem small or simple, like a specific food dish or a walk in the park, etc., Some are very personal, for just one person. Winter traditions include:
Festivals or feasts celebrating the season or a winter holiday
A polar bear plunge
A pickle ornament on a Christmas tree
Watching Christmas movies
Hiding brooms on Christmas Eve
Krampus
They all have meaning to the person or people that hold them, as this exhibit shows.
Questions to Consider
· What are some of your favorite winter memories or traditions? Are there any traditions that you or your family have started?
· Which artwork in this exhibit puts you in the mood for winter?
· Which Father Christmas in the exhibit is your favorite? Why?
Tag us on Social Media
Share your insight on social media with us by tagging @WigwamArt (Twitter) or using the hashtag #awintermood.