Christmas at Alberta House

A Christmas exhibition and sale is an end of the year tradition in galleries across the country and Alberta House is no exception. Every December the gallery crew puts up a Christmas tree and fills both galleries with items brought in for the big “Christmas at Alberta House” exhibition and sale.

The tree is trimmed with hand made ornaments—woven, beaded, birch bark and paper constructions, blown glass and hand painted balls, tiny toys, holly angels, miniature paintings, shot gun Santas and much more—the only limits are the artists’ imaginations. Buyers can pluck ornaments right from the tree.

There are hand made soaps in baskets and gift bags—even soaps with toys in them—from Judy Colein who also brought in room diffusers, paintings, framed photographs and cards. Diane Meyer has gnomes. Margaret La Ponsie has a variety of items from paintings and prints to embroidery and wreaths. Mary Stroba brought in new oil paintings; Maureen Mousley and Dave Bigelow, both paintings and framed prints and Gene Usimaki, original watercolor paintings.

It’s the beginning of the winter season, so there’s much that is warm. Janet Smith brought in quilted lap robes, and rugs woven of designer yarn. Hand knit sweaters, caps and scarves will keep one stylishly cozy. Hand woven table runners and place mats will warm the Christmas table; hooked rugs, a floor or wall. Hefty, hand thrown mugs will hold a hot cup of cocoa; hand thrown, lidded, oven proof casseroles, an entire meal.

Affordable luxuries include colorful blown and stained glass; a wide assortment of original jewelry—sterling, beaded, classic and funky; hand painted and decorated clothing; beautiful, silken, turned wood bowls by Garry Smith; hand woven and birch bark baskets; hand forged hooks, lamps, and wall sculpture; hand dyed silk scarves, and carvings of wood, antler and stone. Nautical work includes seascapes, lighthouses and ships, in paintings, photographs, prints and cards.

There is also much that is distinctively Sault and EUP. David Bigelow has cards and prints of Sault and EUP landmarks—the old Presbyterian and St. James Churches, St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, old Sault High, the Pte. Iroquois Lighthouse and more. Jeanne Tubman has a number of local lighthouses, ships and landmarks in cards and prints. Many of the artists have made cards with winter EUP scenes that would make beautiful Christmas cards. Zoey Wood-Salomon has large winter cards in her “Grandmother” series. Sharon Schmeltzer has playful and colorful snowman cards. Fred Peterson has a series of cards with animal drawings as well as cards with more traditional Christmas subjects.

Perhaps men don’t find men hard to buy for, but most women do and, let’s be realistic—who buys most of the gifts? If one looks at the above list one sees mugs, carvings and note cards that appeal to men. Add to these a generous assortment of wildlife and nautical paintings, drawings, photographs and prints; clever boxes and trays for odds and ends; unusual bottle stoppers and wildlife carvings. Then throw in books by local authors—Rich Hill’s Hitchhiking after Dark and Lake Effect, any of Bernie Arbic’s or Deidre Stevens’ many local history books, Jan Huttenstine’s Remotely Yours about Whitefish Point, or Peter Gianakura’s An American Café—and the problem is solved.

“Christmas at Alberta House” is an exhibit with great variety, with the work of many artists represented, and it changes as the month progresses because artists may resupply as items are sold. Shop now through Christmas Eve during regular hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In preparation for the January cleaning and painting every item in the Alberta House Shop is on sale during December.