For the tenth year, Edgemar on Main Street in Santa Monica will build its 30-foot Christmas tree out of shopping carts, but, for the first time, additional shopping carts will be filled with canned goods that will be donated to the Westside Food Bank.
By now a Main Street holiday tradition, the unusual tree will be located in the central courtyard of the complex that was designed by Frank Gehry.
Artist Anthony Schmitt will begin stacking the 60 shopping carts that the tree is made of the week of November 14. Commissioned by Edgemar owner Abby Sher, each year’s tree differs – in shape and color – from its predecessors.
“Anthony discovered some exceptionally intense cobalt blue lights while he was in Japan this year and I’m excited to see the effect they’ll create reflected in the silver and clear ornaments, and the bright steel of the shopping carts,” Sher said.
A tree-lighting party has been scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 25, at 5 p.m. At 5:15, Barry Glaser, co-founder of the Westside Food Bank, will light the tree.
“When you’re out shopping this holiday season, think of the less fortunate and please put an extra item in your cart for the hungry,” said Glaser.
Everyone who attends the party is asked to bring cans of soup or tuna and/or a plastic jar of peanut butter (no glass please). Everyone is welcome.The tree will be at Edgemar, 2435 Main Street, through January 4.
