Iowa Artwork on White House Christmas Tree
Washington,
Dec 16, 2008 -
Washington, D.C.—Iowa Congressman Tom Latham is proud to announce that Marshalltown resident Sherry Goshon was one of the American artists selected to craft an ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree. Ms. Goshon's finished work is currently on display on the Blue Room’s Christmas tree, located in the East Wing of the White House. Approximately 60,000 White House visitors will visit the White House and view Ms. Goshon's work this holiday season.
"It is an honor to have Iowa's Fourth Congressional District represented on the White House Christmas Tree by Ms. Goshon," said Congressman Latham. "Her ornament stands out representing a visual sense of some of Iowa’s greatest strengths."
The 2008 White House Christmas Tree theme, according to the White House, "celebrates the patriotic spirit that unites us as Americans." Artists were asked to use reds, whites and blues in their ornament designs to showcase America's colors, while at the same time bringing their own creativity to the ornament. Mrs. Goshon brought what she calls the "spirit of Iowa" to her ornament design. According to Ms. Goshon, "... the spirit of Iowa is the agriculture, livestock and the people." Her ornament showcases these features, and used the Iowa State Flower, the Wild Rose, to bring all of the elements together.
The 2008 White House Christmas Tree is an 18 and a half foot tall Fraser fir. According to the White House, "The tree is decorated with 369 ornaments hand-decorated by artists from around the country, who were selected by their members of Congress. Each ornament was specially designed to characterize the unique, patriotic spirit of the artist’s state, district, or territory."
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