WASHINGTON, DC - The official White House Christmas Tree will have a touch of Rhode Island this year, thanks to an ornament designed by a Barrington-based artist. U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) selected Rhode Island artist Mary Jane Begin to create a uniquely Rhode Island ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas tree. First Lady Laura Bush invited Senator Reed and other lawmakers across the country to select local artists to participate in the tree-decorating festivities.

"Rhode Island is known for its outstanding arts community and I am pleased that Mary Jane Begin contributed her time and considerable talents to creating this uniquely Rhode Island ornament," said Reed.

Ms. Begin's ornament features Rhode Island's state bird, the Rhode Island Red, ice skating against a night sky backdrop. The sky is the color blue found in the American Flag and is complemented by red and white strips at the top and bottom. The ornament has 50 stars with the largest star representing both Rhode Island and the Christmas holiday.

"I enjoyed this project very much, and I am proud to have been asked by Senator Reed to participate. It was exciting to visit the White House and see Rhode Island represented on the White House Christmas Tree," said Ms. Begin.

The official 20-foot White House Christmas tree, a North Carolina grown Fraser fir, is on display in the Blue Room of the White House. The tree will be displayed in the White House throughout the holiday season, after which, the ornament becomes part of the White House collection.

Ms. Begin and her mother travelled to Washington, DC on December 2nd to meet with Senator Reed and join other selected artists at a White House reception to view the ornaments.

Mary Jane Begin, who lives in Barrington, is an award-winning illustrator known for her acclaimed children's picture books, including R is for Rhode Island Red and her original prequel series, Willow Buds. Her illustrating career began as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she has taught in the Illustration department for 17 years.

The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison. In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme when she decorated a "Nutcracker tree" with toy trimmings from the Nutcracker Suite ballet by Tchaikovsky.