ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon Artist Collective (OAC) hosted the Gingerbread House contest for Hometown Christmas. This year’s theme was Harbor Town-Ontonagon Past and Present. OAC raised the bar in several ways this year.

• Teamwork; we encouraged teamwork and collaboration requiring group entries.

• Degree of difficulty; the entries had to be constructed with only edible components and had to be structurally sound.

• Reward; a total of $525 dollars was awarded in prize money because of generous community donations and sponsorships.

Of the 11 entries, two were family entries, one home-school entry, 6 entries (teams of 3 students) from the Ontonagon Area School High School Art Class, one collective entry from Community Action Agency Senior Meals, which included a replica of Adventure Ski Area, and a train on the Ontonagon River trestle bridge.

The judges and the community voted for the winners and the entries did not disappoint! Contestants’ entries impressed the community audience with their unique and creative use of materials and size of their structures.

The Houses were displayed during a public Open House in the OAC Gallery at the Ontonagon Museum on Dec. 2. The Collective also hosted the complimentary intermission refreshments for the Hometown Holiday Christmas Concert at the Ontonagon Theatre.

The winners – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd – were all taken by OAS High School Art Students who worked in groups of three directed by Shelli Gardner, their instructor. 1st Place and People’s Choice, The Theater; 2nd Place, Rockland Old Victoria Cabin; 3rd Place Downtown; Honorable Mention, a family entry, went to Grandma’s House.

The 2024 OCAP Pet Calendars are on sale at the Ontonagon Township Library, Community Action Agency and Gitche Gumee Landing. The price is $25 and 100% of the proceeds go directly to OCAP to help support their efforts. You can buy them online www.ontonagonartistcollective.org. Get yours while the supply lasts!

OAC could not have produced this event without the generous sponsorship from our community, both individual and corporate donations. We would like to express our gratitude to Portage Health Auxiliary, Citizen’s State Bank, Miner’s State Bank and Pat’s IGA, who baked the delicious cookies enjoyed during the weekend festivities.

We would like to recognize all the volunteer community members who log countless hours to make Hometown Christmas happen. The Ontonagon Chamber of Commerce for their work orchestrating a wonderful weekend of events.

We could not connect community without the collaboration of our nonprofit partnerships: The Theater for Performing Arts, Ontonagon Historical Society and OCAP.

Ontonagon Artist Collective is inclusive and accessible. OAC provides visibility and opportunities for artists, makers and creators with a classroom and gallery as well as other facilities at no charge. OAC promotes social engagement, energizes the community and creates constructive collaboration between businesses and the community. OAC believes that through collective consciousness everyone benefits. We are stronger together.

Contact OAC, if you are an Artist interested in teaching or learning more: artist@ontonagonartistcollective.org. If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a member: info@ontonagonartistcollective.org.