The holidays can be ugly and at the Firehouse Art Center that’s a good thing.
The Firehouse, which officially kicked off its holiday season on Dec. 10 with a community event to make of ugly holiday sweaters on Facebook Live, is continuing its celebration Thursday with a holiday sweater fashion show doubling as a fundraiser.
“We will be interspersing photos that have been submitted between bits about the Firehouse history, exhibits, art, education, cultural events and support of the creative community,” Executive Director Elaine Waterman said.
People have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to enter their holiday sweaters into the fashion show. They can submit photos of sweaters created during the do-it-yourself class or enter photos of ugly holiday sweaters they already have for themselves, their kids and their pets. The entry fee is $5 per image. Photos can be submitted via email to [email protected].
“The show will include info on voting, as well as holiday greetings from our Firehouse team, the board of directors, past exhibiting artists and more,” Waterman said. “There will be music and holiday cheer, and we’ll share how the Firehouse has been connecting our community to art and culture for over 30 years.”
There are three categories in which people can vote including Best Family Picture, Best Ugly Holiday Sweater-Pets and the Ugliest/Best Holiday Sweater overall.
Votes can be purchased for $1 each. The designs with the highest number of votes in each category will win. The voting period will close at midnight Dec. 21.
The prizes will be a $100 gift card, a party pack from St. Vrain Cidery, including a $50 gift card, a $50 gift card from McGuckin Hardware and a $30 gift card to Madhouse 4 Paws.
Firehouse sold sweater-making kits before the event to ensure people who did not already have a holiday sweater in their closet could participate.
Waterman said she hoped it would encourage families to do a project around the dinner table, where she believes the best memories are made. Firehouse sold sweater kits for one, two or the whole family. The design kits included four designs to choose from, fabric glue, a fabric marker, Christmas confetti, ribbon, felt, Christmas bulbs, bells and other goodies — and the entry fee for the fashion show.
Pet sweaters, such as this pug-ly creation, can be entered in the Firehouse Art Center's virtual ugly sweater fashion show. (Photo courtesy of Firehouse Art Center)Choudhury intends to make sweaters for her family during her daughter’s winter break from school.
Even though the event is free, Firehouse encourages people to register before the event on its Eventbrite page.
Part of Firehouse’s mission is to provide art for all community members to view and participate in regardless of socio-economic status. People who want to help the local art center but might not be able to afford to vote can volunteer at Firehouse on the weekends.
The Firehouse needs art sitter volunteers from noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. “Art sitting is a great way to volunteer, get to know the art on our walls, and talk with other art lovers,” Waterman said.
As of right now, 18 people have purchased holiday sweater design kits and three people have entered the fashion show. The kits will be available for purchase until Dec. 22 or as long as supplies last.
So far, the class has had 440 views from crafters wanting to learn how to create sweaters at home. The DIY holiday sweater making class is available for viewing on Firehouse’s Facebook page.
