Saginaw Trees Bring Spirit to Town

As the Junior League of Saginaw Valley, celebrating its 75th anniversary, opens its annual Festival of Trees this weekend, a 10-year tradition among art students at Saginaw Valley State University comes to a close.

This is the last year David Littell’s 3-D design class has created trees for raffle at the fundraiser. Changes in course assignments next year will bring the long-running connection to a close.

“It’s been a great project,” Littell said of the program dubbed The Artistree Project. “Everybody wins. Our students learn in the process, and they’re doing something for the community. We spend about four weeks each fall semester working on the trees.”

The Festival of Trees takes place Friday through Sunday at Apple Mountain Resort near Freeland, where visitors can buy $1 tickets for drawings on the trees of their choice. Along with the SVSU works are trees, wreaths and decorative displays created by businesses, designers and organizations.

A premiere party takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, and a Santa breakfast is available at 9 a.m. and again at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets to the premiere cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The breakfast costs $10 for children and $15 for adults.

Afterward, Portraits by Gregg will take pictures with a holiday scene. The 5-by-7 prints cost $20, with proceeds going to the Junior League.

“Every three years, we choose a cause to support financially and with volunteers,” said Clare Furlo, chairwoman of this year’s festival with Julie Hohwart. “We’re finishing up our program mentoring adolescent girls at Midland’s Creative 360 this spring, and three agencies are currently under discussion for 2010 through 2012.

“It’s not easy choosing one. They are all very passionate about what they do.”

Furlo and her fellow league members feel the same about the festival, now more than 20 years old. This year’s event offers more than 85 items, kicking off the season with many new designers in the mix.

The loss of The Artistree Project will leave a void next year, she said.

“They’re certainly some of the most creative trees,” she said of past efforts. “The students are fun, coming out to the premiere party to show off their work to their families and friends. I’m disappointed to hear that’s coming to an end.”

Among the 10 SVSU trees up for raffle this year is one created of bottles and corks and another of a papier mache lady. One is draped in tulle with lights underneath creating an incandescent glow.

“We tried to brighten it up, and we added some tulle to flesh it out,” said James G. Yager, 36, of Bay City. “I like the way it captures the light.”

And there’s another with a contemporary look, with Plexiglas, frosted and lit, curving around a metallic stand.

“It’s taking form,” said Adam J. French, 26, of Bay City. “I’m starting to feel positive.”

Littell remembers how organizers from the Festival of Trees were a nervous the first year, unsure what the students would create. In the years since, he added, they’ve looked forward to seeing the designs, and students have signed up for the class, knowing it included Artistree.

“The trees have ended up in some interesting places through the years,” Littell said. “One of our trees was shown in a contemporary furniture store in Southfield. One year, a grade school kid won the tree in the raffle, and they took it to school where it was on display in the cafeteria for most of the year.

“I’ve heard from people, too, that since the trees are not specifically Christmassy, they keep them on display in their homes year-round.”