The Centennial Complex is home to the Art Museum as well as the American Heritage Center.
The University of Wyoming Art Museum will host its 20th Annual Holiday Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. today at 2111 Willet Dr.
The celebration will begin tonight with the Festival of Trees Silent Auction and Lighting of the Trees in the various galleries in the art museum, including the James M. Boyle and Patricia Guthrie galleries.
“We have about 20 trees this year. Different groups from around the community donate trees and time and then come and decorate the trees,” assistant curator Rachel Miller said.
Attendees can place bids on the trees they like best and the funds will go back to the art museum for its education department and exhibition funds.
“We have a variety of people who participate in decorating including Girl Scouts, First Interstate Bank, as well as individual families,” visitor services associate Laura Morlan said.
The celebration will resume on Saturday Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. with the “Happy Holidays Laramie” event. This event will include musical performances by the Laramie Community Band and the Laramie Junior High Choir.
“We have several people volunteering to help with this event including students from Whiting and Laramie High Schools and the junior high,” Miller said. “The target for this event is definitely the larger community.”
The event also will include a visit from Santa Claus, art-making activities and an exhibition of artwork from Albany County students. Students from several schools in the Albany County area, including Rock River, Spring Creek, St. Laurence O’Toole and Indian Paintbrush, had artwork that included ocean collages, watercolors, acrylics and some hybrids, such as sharpie and oil pastels and sharpie and marker from the local elementary schools. The Albany County Student Art Exhibit will be open until Friday Dec. 21.
Sponsors for the ceremony include Laramie GM Auto Center, First Interstate Bank, John McPherson DDS, UniWyo Federal Credit Union, First National Bank of Wyoming, McDonald’s, and Applebee’s. Flowers for the ceremony were also donated by local florists.
