Local artist ornaments will hang on the White House tree

BUSHKILL — Carol Decker, of Branchville, N.J., was selected to paint ornaments representing the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Delaware National Scenic River for the White House Christmas tree this year. The White House holiday theme this year is ‘Holiday in the National Parks’. The official White House Christmas Tree, an 18-foot Fraser Fir located in the Blue Room, is adorned with ornaments representing America’s national parks. Earlier this year, each unit of the National Park Service received a plain Christmas ball from the White House. Each park was asked to select an artist to design an ornament depicting some of the unique aspects of that park on the six inch high gold ball. “Park employees recommended Carol’s art work to me for her excellence in depicting even the smallest details in her paintings. Her efforts have helped to highlight the national significance of the many resources in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area,“ stated park Superintendent John J. Donahue. All the artists were invited to join the First Lady at reception at the White House at the end of November to view all of the White House holiday decorations A slideshow of all the National Park Service ornaments and details about ‘Holiday in the National Parks’ can be found on the White House Web site, www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2007. Carol Decker is an internationally know wildlife artist, naturalist, conservationist, and educator. Her work has appeared in many books, publications, and other projects of national organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Quail Unlimited, and National Wild Turkey Federation. Carol painted over 80 full color paintings that originally appeared on the covers of New Jersey Outdoors magazine, published by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. In addition, her art has been featured on television programs and countless exhibitions throughout the country and worldwide. More information about Carol and her work can be found on her website, www.caroldeckerwildlifeartstudio.com .