My dad was in charge of Holiday decorating, more specifically the lights inside and out. It would be a production that would go on for days. Ladders of all heights would come out; staple guns and electrical tape too. Bulbs would have to be tested and retested for each strand of lights-my dad had some sort of voltage tester for this.
It was a project that he thoroughly enjoyed. It was a project that made my mother crazy. He would be out in the cold and she would be inside yelling at him through the windows. Good times.
Our lights growing up were blue. (The old fashioned bulbs instead of the white twinkle lights of today). And our tree had blue/green balls and garland with an angel at the top.
In 1931 at the site that is now Rockefeller Center, a tree was erected by the construction workers of that project in celebration of a paycheck. Everyone at that time was still feeling the impact of the Depression.
In current day New York I have seen the crowds swarm around the tree during the Holiday Season, year after year, without every knowing the history of this tradition. This MovieShort tells that story.
This year I went to the site on 4 different occasions to document what it takes to prepare this tree for the lighting in December. My first day of shooting was November 8, 2013 as they rolled the tree onto the plaza.
I’ve dedicated this MovieShort to my dad, as he would have appreciated the time and effort it takes to make something really special.
May your Holidays Sparkle!
Until next time.
Teresa, 51art
adventure is life, live it! ®
A Touch of Yellow in NYC 