West Hartford Art League students have been selected to create Connecticut’s ornaments to be included in the 2014 ‘Pathway of Peace’ in President’s Park.

Sampling of some ornaments created at the West Hartford Art League that will adorn a tree in Presidential Park in Washington, DC. Submitted photo

Submitted release

The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, announced today that students from the West Hartford Art League and Hall High School, under the direction of West Hartford Art League instructor and artist Barbara McBrien, have been chosen to design and create ornaments to be included in the 2014 Pathway of Peace in President’s Park in Washington, D.C.

The West Hartford Art League joins local artists and youth from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia.

The Pathway of Peace is one of the highlights of the National Christmas Tree Lighting, a national event presented by the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service.

“It is an honor to have one of our instructors, as well as our local art students be included in this historic event,” said Roxanne Stachelek, Executive Director of the West Hartford Art League. “The Pathway of Peace is a great opportunity for these young artists to be able to represent the state of Connecticut.”

Students paint ornaments at the West Hartford Art League for display in Washington, DC’s Presidential Park this holiday season. Submitted photo.

“The students, led by artist Barbara McBrien, used a variety of materials to portray the diversity of our state in their designs that range from portraits of literary figures Mark Twain and Noah Webster, to ornaments that illustrate our coastline and seaports, parks, the Charter Oak tree, our state bird, and fall foliage.”

Four weeks of holiday events in President’s Park will kick off with the 2014 National Christmas Tree Lighting, scheduled for December 4, 2014.

As one of America’s oldest holiday traditions, the National Christmas Tree Lighting began on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse in President’s Park.  Since 1923, each succeeding President has carried on the tradition of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. In addition to the Pathway of Peace, President’s Park hosts a variety of family-oriented holiday attractions, including nightly holiday performances, and model train display.

For ticket information and talent announcements, as well as other event details, please visit www.thenationaltree.org and follow the National Christmas Tree on Twitter at @TheNationalTree. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #NCTL2014.