A world of joy at museum

clocktower052: Clocktower Holidays
Youth Mariachi singer Jessie Maldonado entertained the opening night crowd attending the “Joy to the World” exhibit.
Visitors had a sneak preview of what the Kern County Museum had planned for this year's Clock Tower Holidays during a special Gala Reception on Nov. 17 inside the museum's main gallery. Tickets were $25. Included in the festive evening was the annual lighting of the Beale Memorial Clock Tower, a preview tour of the designer decorated holiday trees and wreaths, music and delicious foods and beverages from different lands.

Called "Joy to the World," the exhibit went on display the next day to the general public and runs through Dec. 30. Visitor hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 12-5 p.m. Sundays. Admission prices are $8 adults, $7 seniors ( ages 60+) and students (ages 13-17), $6 students (ages 6-12), $5 children (ages 3-5). Children younger than 3 are admitted free. Parking is also free.

As one might expect by the exhibit's title, all the displays reflect a celebration of the December holidays around the world. Local artists put a lot of creative imagination into their wreath and tree designs. On the main floor of the gallery, visitors will find rows of very tall trees decorated with Asian, African, Latin, Mediterranean, Polynesian and American themes.

Trees with rich silk ribbons, hand painted ceramic plates and delicate reed umbrellas can be seen next to those with beautifully-colored flower leis, bejeweled ornaments, framed scenes of exotic places and artists' drawings representing the children of the world.

Denise Kobdish designed a tree called "It's a Small World," which features the children of the world as well as popular holiday greetings in many languages as ornaments.

"Yes, I hand-painted all of the characters, and it took a month to do," Kobdish told admiring visitors who attended the Nov. 17 gala. "I love to do it. Each year, I try to out do myself and that means weeks of planning."

Protectively displayed in glass cases on the second floor of the gallery you can find holiday artifacts from cultures of many lands, as well as detailed explanations of how the items on view are used in the holiday celebrations of those countries. Visitors can see ceremonial silk gowns, 500-600 year-old embroidered, silk-threaded Temari balls, hand-painted screens and folk art from Bakersfield's sister city of Wakayama, Japan. Local residents reached into their treasured collections to provide exquisite glass and ceramic artifacts from Minsk, Belarus. Bakersfield's sister city in China, Cixi, donated ceremonial masks, silk formal wear, and a wooden, meticulously, hand carved, replica of a Chinese sailing ship to yet another display. Dating back hundreds of years and occupying another case are the clay pottery and beaded clothing of North American Indians, Kern's first settlers, from the museum's own vast collection.

During the gala, Yowlumni Indians from the Tule River Reservation put on a display of ancient basket weaving. Carria Franco Barrios was one of the weavers and said she would not have missed the event.

"My great uncle, Henry Lawrence Wahumcha made arrows and tools back in the 1930s for the museum which are still on display, today," Barrios said.

Surrounded by all the holiday glitter, gala attendees were serenaded by the ethnic music of the young and talented Kern County Youth Mariachi. Visitors also had the opportunity to sample many, delicious ethnic foods provided by Luigi's, Mexicali, Café Med, Panda Express and Trader Joe's.

The Clock Tower Holidays will also feature several other events coming up through the month of December including:

  • Shop Around the World -- Dec. 2, 4-9 p.m. and Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Holiday Lamplight Tours -- Dec. 10, 3-8 p.m.
  • Cookies at the Clock Tower -- Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • After Holiday Sale -- Jan. 3, 4-9 p.m.

Call the museum at (661) 852-5000 or check its Web site, http://www.kcmuseum.org for more information about the events.


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