Nativities Around the World display

—Free-will donation accepted to Howard County Hospice at Champlin Hall
Champlin Hall Dec. 28 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CRESCO - For the third year, Jon and Lisa Kammerer of Cresco are sponsoring Nativities Around the World, a display of their personal collection of more than 75 nativity scenes.
This year, the Nativities Around the World display is showcased in conjunction with Cresco Theatre’s free holiday movie showing, ‘The Star.’ The movie is Saturday, Dec. 28 at  2 p.m. and is sponsored by Howard County Community Hospice.
The public is welcome to view the Kammerer’s exhibition at Champlin Hall, located adjacent to and on the lower level of the Cresco Theatre and Opera House. The display will be featured from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 
Lisa Kammerer said, “People can stop by and see the display before or after the movie showing. We will have coffee and cookies available.”
Kammerers were inspired to begin the public display when visitors to their home saw the collection, which features nativities from a variety of countries, depicting numerous cultures.
“I have a big collection of nativities and when people came to our house, they were intrigued by them, so I thought I’d share the collection with the public,” Kammerer said.
Kammerer said she began collecting nativities from countries she visited and found a new sense of meaning when she and her husband adopted children from Guatemala and Ethiopia, respectively.
“I have nativities from the countries I have visited and the countries my children are from, so I started with Israel, Guatemala and Ethiopia. I have a lot of nativity scenes from Africa and South Africa as well as Peru, Bethlehem and some from Indonesia and Sri Lanka,” she said.
Kammerer said the fair trade nativities in her collection are often made from found items readily on hand, including recycled materials, rolled paper, pop cans, beads, soapstone and carved wood.
“People are often surprised by the diversity of the nativity scenes, the colors and materials, and representation,” Kammerer explained. “For example, the Peru nativity scene features llamas.”
Kammerer said her children find special significance in the nativity scenes from their home countries.
“They each have their own nativity scene and want them in their bedrooms,” she added.
As she readies for the Nativities Around the World display, Kammerer said she is pleased with the public reaction to the event.
“This is our third year displaying the nativities and people have been very supportive,” she said. 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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