A Child's Dream of Christmas

In December 2015, Portland-based film director and artist Chel White helped to bring a big-city holiday window display to Toledo.

Photo credit: Chel White

Toledo gallery features classic department store holiday window

By The Daily News, Dec. 17, 2015

 

Visiting holiday window displays at big-city department stores on crisp evenings is a traditional way to celebrate the holiday spirit throughout the United States.

 

This year, the small town of Toledo is offering its version of the experience.

 

A window in Gallery 505 is decorated as “A Child’s Dream of Christmas” and is lighted up from dusk until midnight daily through at least the end of the year.

 

The window was designed by Chel White, a Portland-based film director and artist whose series of animated commercials for AT&T in the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” style are currently airing on television. White also has directed projects for “Saturday Night Live,” Radiohead, Nike and David Lynch.

 

“I wanted it to feel like a child’s dream and wanted it to be unique,” White said in a news release. “I decided to avoid Santa, elves, nativity and such, leaning instead towards the unexpected,” he said.

 

“The whole concept really centers around the image of a young child who meets a mystical white deer,” White said. “It’s like looking into the mind of a child to witness a magical Christmas dream.”

 

The window display features elements inspired by classic holiday specials. For Rudolph, White used a target deer model used by bow hunters, covered it with artificial white fur and added glass deer eyes.

 

http://tdn.com/lifestyles/toledo-gallery-features-classic-department-store-holiday-window/article_2f02971d-956f-5b7b-8a35-0bd7c16f02fb.html

Toledo Christmas Lights Tour, Window Display Illuminate Possibilities for Optimistic Town

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle, Dec. 17, 2015

 

Christmas light displays popping up around the town of Toledo aren't just a festive way to celebrate the season.

 

To Mike and Di Morgan, they're also another light leading the South Lewis County town out of some of its darkest days.

 

This is the second year in a row Vision:TOLEDO has sponsored a holiday lights contest for the greater Toledo area. Participants need only turn their names in and then decorate their homes. They will be vying not only for the title of best holiday lights, but also gift certificates to local businesses.

 

Mike Morgan, who owns Morgan Arts Centre with his wife, Di, said the idea of a holiday lights contest seemed like a great way to get community members more involved in their town.

 

Another way to ring in the Christmas season is a special window display at the gallery titled “A Child's Dream of Christmas” that was created by Portland-based film director and artist Chel White and produced by Laura McGie. Mike Morgan and Kendall Richardson, of Richardson Construction, also assisted in the creation.

 

“It's like looking into the mind of a child to witness a magical Christmas dream,” White wrote of his creation. “For me, it captures a sense of spirituality, mystery in nature and most of all, imagination. That is my intention but ultimately it's one of those things that anyone who sees it should interpret in their own way.”

 

Read the full story here:

http://www.chronline.com/toledo-christmas-lights-tour-window-display-illuminate-possibilities-for-optimistic/article_654d03b4-a4eb-11e5-aaf0-9f6ab0e726f1.html

Gallery 505 is located at 205 Cowlitz Street in downtown Toledo, Washington, 98591.

Contact us at (360) 864-2789 or by e-mail at sales@artgallery505.com.

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