Yet another festive holiday activity has arrived here in Chesterton! The town is hosting a holiday window decorating contest for any and all businesses in downtown Chesterton. Throughout the town, one can spot several windows already working on their creations in hopes of being one of the three winners in this riveting competition. One of these displays can be seen in the windows of the Chesterton Art Center, an art display and studio in downtown Chesterton. One specific group can be credited to the charming scenes displayed in their windows is TAG.
The Teen Arts Group, or TAG, is a volunteer group of middle school and high school artists that is open to any teen in Northwest Indiana who takes an interest in art, or is looking for volunteer opportunities involving art around the area. TAG is led by Cara Schmidt, a Chesterton Art Center employee, who provides the kids with art prompts, volunteer jobs, and opportunities to sell handmade, visual art. Meetings consist of creating art for a certain event or activity that the kids can submit their art to, usually individual projects that Schmidt helps them prepare to sell. The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at the Art Center, and during the last few sessions, the kids have been working on something a little different.
In the front three windows of the Chesterton Art Center (CAC), there are to be dioramas depicting different Christmas scenes. This is the kind of competition that CAC and other participants are bringing to the table for the window decorating contest. The TAG members decided to do their displays based on claymation Christmas movie scenes and characters. The young members of TAG divided into three groups and showcased their talents in the creation of their dioramas. These three displays will perform as one and compete against others in the community. Schmidt facilitated the activity and provided the kids with everything they need to blow the contest out of the water.
“We have three scenes all based on claymation movies, and [TAG members] designed them and constructed them,” said Schmidt on the subject of the CAC’s window displays.
With Schmidt’s help, the group was able to create impressive and creative dioramas that will follow the “Glitter and Glow” theme of the contest and be lit up from inside. Each piece is made of a faceless cube of cardboard and contains cut-out layers of paper that depict a different claymation winter scene. Because of the different dimensions of figures in the boxes, they are able to be lit up with LED light strips and appreciated for their full artistry. Expect to see familiar Christmas faces like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Krampus in the front windows of the Chesterton Art Center.
Winners will be decided based on which three displays have the most votes out of all the displays in Chesterton. Voting continues through December 14th and winners will be announced on the 16th. First place will earn a free ⅙-page ad in Travel IN magazine, second place will get a week of complimentary advertising on the digital billboard on I-49, and third place will receive the gift of $100 from the Chesterton Branding and Leadership Corporation that will support sponsored social media posts. For independent businesses in a small town like Chesterton, any of these prizes are extremely rewarding. Vote for your favorite display at https://www.visitchesterton.org/ and watch both the holiday and competitive spirits of Chesterton citizens be showcased simultaneously!
