JaRaTa, an instructor at Marion's Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts, crafted a replica guitar out of wood from the historic schoolhouse building.
MARION, VA - The Town of Marion will be well represented at the Governor's mansion this Christmas season. By invitation from the Virginia Municipal League, the community selected local Marion artist Jack Taylor (known fondly as JaRaTa) to craft an ornament to enhance the Christmas Tree at the Governor's Mansion in Richmond this year.
JaRaTa , an instructor at Marion's Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts, crafted a replica guitar out of wood from the historic schoolhouse building. The two-story brick structure was built in 1908 as the town's first high school, and has recently been renovated as the Henderson School, offering Appalachian and traditional arts, crafts, and music classes.
Catherine Poole, executive director of The Henderson said, "Thousands of Virginians will visit the tree and tour the mansion during the month of December. We are all very proud that our town will have its musical heritage represented in this wonderful work of art by someone of unprecedented talent like JaRaTa."
Marion mayor David Helms echoed Poole's sentiments: "We are honored to send our first guitar made at the Henderson to the Governor's Mansion to represent our community, even if it is a miniature. We hope this will remind all Virginians of the opportunities offered at the Henderson as we continue to offer more and more classes and workshops, and will serve as an invitation to come visit our town."
