Visions of sugarplum fairies and marzipan treats ...
Published Friday November 28th, 2008
One of Fredericton's popular holiday events is happening on Sunday. The Nutcracker Tea is something the entire family can enjoy at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
It's truly a delight for the senses. Sample some of the 1,600 Christmas cookies beautifully displayed on silver trays. Sip cider, juice, tea or coffee. Listen to songs of the season and watch ballerinas and Celtic dancers perform. Have your your face painted, fingernails polished and get creative with some arts and crafts.
All activities are sure to keep the young and young-at-heart entertained during this two-hour extravaganza.
Home economist and cookbook author Marg Routledge and 17 volunteers have prepared nine varieties of delicious and beautifully decorated cookies for this tempting tea. "We've got almond fingers, lemon poppyseed, sugar cookies, chocolate thumbprints, gingerbread men and shortbread-type cookies. Things that will appeal to the young tea-goers because this is really a children's event," says Routledge.
She continues to volunteer her time and talents whenever The Nutcracker Tea is held because it's so much fun and it's such a wonderful start to the holiday season, helping her to get into the Christmas spirit, she says.
The gingerbread houses on display at the tea will be taken to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's pediatric ward for the children and hospital staff to enjoy.
Little girls will be dressed as sugarplum fairies and one little boy will be the Mouse King. They'll be scurrying here and there, giving away candies.
It takes dozens of volunteers to make this come together, says one of the co-chairs of this event. Germaine Pataki-Thériault says it's a magical time.
"It is a tradition. We look forward to this every two years. It (the holiday season) wouldn't be the same without it."
The planning started in late September. It wasn't clear whether it would be possible to hold The Nutcracker Tea this year because of two exhibits on display at the gallery. The National Art Gallery's exhibit doesn't permit food, beverages or crafts. Another exhibit, Insecte, also needs to be protected. But the gallery has agreed to go ahead with the tea because so many people have asked about it.
"We're using the lower gallery and the education room and we are using the McCain gallery by taking some of the sculptures off the floor. The curator and the artists agreed.
"So we're going to take some of the pieces off the floor for a minimum amount of disruption. They're going back at the end of the day so the exhibition doesn't get disrupted for too long," says Adda Mihailescu the gallery's art educator and manager of public programs.
Because it's vital to protect the art exhibits, staff and volunteers will be present to make sure the art is protected and sticky fingers are washed.
"For these two hours it's very intense. There is so much stuff happening and there 300 people here, most of which are kids. You've got to keep your eyes on them. Parents are here but they get distracted because they chat with their friends because it's really a social event."
Because space is limited for this tea, so were the number of available tickets. Only 300 were available this year, says co-chair Coleen Gormal-Asal.
And all the tickets have been sold out, says Pataki-Thériault.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will be used by the gallery to organize community events.
The tea makes it possible for youngsters, and adults as well, to experience the gallery in a fun, informal way. While at The Nutcracker Tea, visitors experience art without even realizing it, says Pataki-Thériault.
"Whether they stand there and look at one of the lovely drawings from the National Gallery or the big Dali painting, it goes into them subconsciously. Every time they go into the gallery, they will learn new things about it. Because people learn in a variety of ways including through sight, touch and sound, this tea provides many learning opportunities.
"You get to listen to the music, you get to play with crafts, and you get to experience things from a visual perspective. Those are all good things for children," says Pataki-Thériault.
Some people may find galleries intimidating but this is a fun, warm and welcoming environment where people can come and discover what art exhibits are all about, she adds.
"It's not intimidating at all. They're very welcoming all the time as they are in other galleries. It's a good experience."
For more information about this tea call 458-2032 or e-mail adda@beaverbrookartgallery.org.
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