Deck the halls: MCâs annual ornament sale brightens Christmas, supports student travel
Mississippi College faculty, staff and alumni can turn this holiday season into a “Blue-and-Gold” Christmas during MC’s annual ornament sale.
The decorations are available in a variety of shapes, from angels, crosses and doves to a silhouette of Mississippi and the popular ±«Óătvlogo.
Proceeds from the sale help support senior art education students’ travel to attend the National Art Education Association’s convention in March.
Elise Payne, ±«Óătvassistant professor and art education coordinator, said the annual sale is a holiday tradition that harkens back to when she was an undergraduate student at Mississippi College.
“I was in one of the first groups of art education majors to pilot this program, and it is incredible to see how it has grown over the years,” Payne said. “I am particularly proud of this group of students for their dedication to making each ornament perfect and unique, and all the extra time they have put into the whole process.”
Decorative shapes are cut from slabs of clay and bisque-fired in a kiln. The students glaze the ornaments by hand, giving each its unique color and texture. The ornaments are fired once again to acquire a glossy finish. Students add the finishing touch by threading twine or ribbon through the decorations, making them ready to be hung.
It’s painstaking work, but the students love helping to make the season festive for others.
“I always enjoy being part of the process from start to finish, and it’s great to spend time getting to know my fellow NAEA student chapter members,” said Kyndall Mackey, an art education major from Olive Branch. “As a senior this year, I especially enjoy getting to meet the people who will buy the ornaments and thank them for sending me to the convention.”
In addition to gaining practical experience working with ceramics, the students also learn how to use their art to promote and support their program – skills that will be useful in their future classrooms, Payne said.
She said about 7,000 art teachers and future art educators attend the NAEA’s annual convention.
“It is an excellent opportunity for our students to network and learn from art educators from around the country,” Payne said. “As part of the convention, the students also get to visit world-class museums and see many famous works of art in person.”
“Going to the NAEA convention allowed me to diversify my understanding of art education and learn from other educators to grow in my educational knowledge,” said JT McNamee, a senior art education major from Clinton. “I particularly enjoyed hearing from current working artists and getting to see the art I have been studying for years.”
Ornaments will be available for purchase from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Nov. 18-21, in the Caf, or by sending an email to Lillian Baker, fundraising chair, at lgbaker@mc.edu.
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