OXFORD — This year’s “Home to the Arts” Gala at the Oxford Community Arts Center will showcase not only recently completed renovations, but also entertainment by OCAC students.

Inspired by a French watercolor painting and recently restored French doors, co-chairs Martha Slager and Lucille Hautau are putting a French accent on the annual event, which is themed “Beyond French Doors” and will be held March 23. The co-chairs have enlisted resident textile artist Pamela Howard to create promotional berets to be sported by event sponsors and committee members.

Howard, an Oxford resident since 1995, took an interest in textiles at 8 years old when family members taught her crocheting, sewing and tailoring. Now in semi-retirement, she finds Oxford’s embrace of the arts to be a perfect fit with these lifetime interests. Working from a studio within Oxford Community Arts Center, Howard has a new task – to create 40 wool fiber berets to promote the upcoming gala.

Each unique beret is a handcrafted work of art. An impressive four-hour, multi-step process is required to complete one hat, in addition to overnight drying. Fellow OCAC artist Chrissy Collopy and Oxford textile artist Luci Hammons are lending hands to help ensure timely completion of the project. A team of volunteers will turn to needles and sewing machines to embellish Howard’s textile work with natural, decorative trims.

Howard, ever conscientious of her environmental footprint, uses wool from sheep and alpacas local to the region. There is an abundance of alpaca raised for purposes other than shearing, resulting in sheared wool without consumer destination.

“I’m especially happy to make use of the abundance and limit waste,” Howard said.

Take materials from our natural resources without damaging the environment is the motto she strives to work by. In keeping to this ideal, Howard has developed a wide network of fellow fiber enthusiasts and suppliers spanning the globe. One of these friends is an animal husbandry expert from nearby Herman Hills Farm who has become a trusted mentor.

From the farm to the Oxford Community Arts Center, simple wool is being transformed into a unique commentary about the vibrancy beyond our community arts center’s French doors.

To learn more about the artist or to participate in this year’s Oxford Community Arts Center Gala as a guest, sponsor or in-kind donor, call 513-524-8506, email ocac@oxarts.org, or visit the website at www.oxarts.org.