The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
 is in good cheer and celebrating the holiday spirit with the overwhelming success of the Festival of Trees Gala held Friday night, December 3, drawing over 400 guests for its fourth annual event.

Guests ranging in age from one to 100 traveled through the gardens and viewed over 30 magnificently decorated trees individually underwritten by various businesses, civic groups and individuals with a universal theme of Les Artistes.  In addition to the parade of trees were musical and ballet performances from the Florida Classical Ballet Theater, the West Boca Raton High School Choir, Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Stringendo School For Strings, the BAK Middle School of the Arts Chorus, and Palm Beach Atlantic University’s “Brass 5” who provided glorious entertainment for the young and the young at heart.

The Festival of Trees continued with its community days throughout the weekend and will begin daily starting this Wednesday, December 8 through Sunday, December 12 with evening viewing from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Evening tickets for adults are $15, children $5, and children 3 and under free.

Mentionable tree favorites include: The Palm Beach Illustrated tree inspired by Louis Nelveson and created by the Festival of Trees Design Chair, Joseph Pubillones who assembled an eight-foot, three-dimensional tree, Wayne Thiebaud for his noted confection in art inspired tree which was a favorite for the numerous children who attended the gala with lollipops adoring the tree and its base, a Picasso inspired tree, by Home Life Interiors utilizing the abstract use of color and imagery as well as the musical instruments depicted in many of his works, and Erte who is an absolute garden goddess in green and faux fur for Dr. Howard and Joanne Lybolt as seen by their designer, Austin Hancock.  Additional masterpiece mentions include: Garrigues Interiors who designed two trees; the first, a Henri Matisse inspired tree, utilizing bold colors and large scale shapes topped with Matisse’s famous Icarus from the Jazz series and a Paul Gauguin tree covered with large palm fronds, colorful flowers and seashells, designer Chad Renfro with his interpretation of a Warhol inspired tree for the Rodriquez and Wickman Families of Wellington, and a Vincent Van Gogh themed tree created by the 3rd Grade Class at Rosarian Academy underwritten by Mieke van Waveren & Family who is of this year’s Co-Chairs.

“For the first time we exceeded our goal of presenting 25 trees”, said Cynthia Palmieri, Executive Director of the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. “With 32 trees this year, we have an array of contemporary, traditional, abstract, and pop art represented.”

Designers representing the Festival of trees include: Rodger Chew II, Kevin Clark, Joseph Cortez, Mona de Sayve, Susan Fagan, Jack Fhillips, Jenny Garrigues, Austin Hancock, Patrick Killian, Isolde Koester, Lauri LaBow, Debora Maaale, Kevin Marnell, Jennifer Marsh, Tom Mathieu, Stephen Mooney, Cynthia Palmieri, Margaret Poetz, Chad Renfro, Allan Reyes, Angela Reynolds, Scott Robertson, Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach, Melody Smith, Catherine Stewart, Bruce Sutka, Holly Taboada, Cynthia Thomas, Veronica Volani-Inza and Design Chair, Joseph Pubillones. 

The 2010 Chairpersons are Karyn Lamb and Mieke Van Waveren, with David Miller serving as Honorary Chairman. Committee members include: Robin Azqueta, Diana Bell, Jeff Blakely, Jonathan Cameron-Hayes, Joanne Colt, Chrissy Colton, Millie Dayton, Aime Dunstan, Jenny Garrigues, Amy Guerrieri, Austin Hancock, Margaret Horgan, Karyn Janssen, Kelly Kirkpatrick, Brian Kirkpatrick, Dana Krentschmar, Heléné Lorentzen, Denise McCann, David Miller, Tara Nicoletti, Eileen and John Otto, Joseph Pubillones, Analisa Ramos-Estaban, Chad Renfro, Jennifer Rodriguez, True Rodriguez, Ashley and Michael Ramos, Denise Silverman, Sandy Singer, Tracy Smith, Linda Soper, Diana Speight, Tricia Taylor, and Emmy Wolbach.

The event serves as the major fundraising event for the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and its Community Enrichment Program with sponsors and underwriters that include: The Gentleman of the Garden, KOOL 105.5 FM, Palm Beach Illustrated, The Palm Beach Post, Grey Goose Vodka sponsored by Bacardi, U.S.A, Rock Star Catering Company, Marky Caviar, The Breakers Palm Beach, Whole Food Markets, Sushi Jo, Opici Wines Company of Florida, Imishmail Merritt Photography, Lydian Bank and Trust, and Tree Towne Christmas Trees. 

The Festival of Tree raises money to support the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens and its Community Enrichment Program. The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens’ Community Enrichment Program is designed to provide cultural opportunities to all populations, through innovative programming incorporating the visual arts, environmental awareness, and interpretive history of Ann Weaver Norton.

Special admissions apply during the Festival of Trees Community Days. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door and go to support the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.

For Groups Sales please call 561- 832-5328. To learn more on how you can be part of this fundraising event to support the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens please call 561-832-5328 or email annnorton@ansg.org.

To view the latest schedule of events at the garden, please visit: www.ansg.org.

The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, Inc. is a recognized 501 (c) (3) operating foundation established in 1977 by the prominent sculptor Ann Weaver Norton (1905-1982). The gardens are conveniently located at 253 Barcelona Road, at the corner of Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, FL. The rare palm and sculpture gardens, exhibition galleries and artist studio are currently open
 Wednesday-Sunday. 11- 4 p.m.