One of the ornaments that brought cheer to the White House during this Christmas season was created by Leila Robinson, an art teacher at Pendleton Heights High School.
First lady Laura Bush invites one artist per congressional district to design and create a bulb for her Christmas tree in the Blue Room each year.
Robinson was selected by Mike Pence to be the artist for District 6.
“I was thrilled I was chosen and it was fun to do something a little different — out of my normal realm,” she said. “It was fun to make and it was fun to be invited to the White House. I wish I could have gone. Mrs. Bush took the artists through the White House and one of the artists who went told me it was unbelievable.”
Last fall, Bush sent Robinson the invitation and a set of instructions and restrictions involved.
The 4-inch silver bulb was mailed to Robinson and she began creating.
“You need to represent your state. You have to come up with your concept in some way to visualize your state,” Robinson said. “I didn’t want to use the typical Hoosier symbols — auto racing, I’m sure, has been done, and basketball. I decided that I’d play on the nature because our state is so beautiful. I think hardwood trees are gorgeous. They are something I look at every day.”
Once she decided to focus on trees, it was time to decide how to project her idea onto the bulb.
Not only did she want an unusual design, but also an original presentation.
“Most people just paint something on the bulb, but I knew I wanted to do something dimensional and I chose metal,” she said. “My piece was made out of pierced metal — all out of copper with a patina finish. I took all the hardwood trees of Indiana — the tulip, oak, maple, and elm — and I did a leaf of each tree. I had a negative space area where I used a jeweler’s saw to saw all the leaves out with their details. Then I took those metal squares that now had the negative space in them and attached the positive space leaf to them so it was very dimensional.
“And then out of one strand of wire, I made a script that was small — about a quarter of an inch tall — and it said ‘Back Home Again in Indiana.’ It went around the bulb and made its way in and out of the leaves.”
Robinson enjoyed seeing the 18-foot-tall tree on the NBC “Today” show.
“I think it’s an interesting tradition,” she said. “And I think it’s wonderful to have artists from all across the country to culminate to express the joy of the season.”
Pendleton News
January 7, 2009
News (Jan. 7): Artist designs ornaments for White House tree
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