Tree lighting, open house at CCAC

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Charity and good cheer were in abundance Friday at the Charles City Arts Center, as art patrons kicked off the Christmas season with an open house and a tree-lighting ceremony.

Members of the Charles City Singers led the crowd with some Christmas carols, and the public was invited to come in and warm up, have a hot cider or hot chocolate and cookies, and help decorate the tree while watching the city’s Holiday Lighted Parade and fireworks out the window.

Background music was provided throughout the night by James Aissen, a 13-year-old pianist from Clarksville, who recently released his second album, entitled “Winter Dreams.”

A Christmas floral arrangement by Christopher Anthony at Otto’s Oasis, which was made of long-lasting greens and that will almost certainly last throughl Christmas, was sold off at silent auction.

The CCAC Holiday Market will be ongoing until Dec. 23. Artists from all over the state have their work on sale and display, including jewelry work by Ann Schneckloth, wood carvings by Dennis Peterson, pottery by Nancy Clarke and Barbara Thomsen and paintings by Ann Bishop McGregor.

Also included are art pieces by Karl Haglund, Ashley Schmitt, Becky Kyhl, Pamela Bergo Coffey and Dan Wilson, among dozens of others.

The market, which has been going on for many years, is a way for the CCAC to represent local and regional artists. Other gift items and stocking-stuffers are also on sale, including homemade soaps, hats and scarves.