NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The Royal Sonesta Hotel is getting ready for its annual Holiday “Teddy Bear Tea.” Each year, the hotel commissions a local artist to create the Royal Teddy Bear ornament that will be sold to benefit Children’s Hospital. This year’s artist is already hard at work. WGNO reporter Deepak Saini gives you a sneak peek.
Artist Jason Mullan has his work cut out for him.
“We have 400 ornaments. I have 400 individually cut 3×3 square blocks,” says Mullan.
It’s Santa’s workshop and there’s no elves to power through hundreds of blocks, just him.
“Overlaid gold with green on this one. Of course, the red, the bows, the fuzzy of Christmas. So I’ve got the green, white, red and gold snowflake of Christmas,” says Mullan.
Each block is a tedious process. Once the edges are painted, it’s off to the press. The iconic Royal Teddy Bear will be screen printed onto each block. They’ll have Jason’s personal touch.
“Not one will be the same and this is a symbolic way of honoring the children,” says Mullan.
100% of the holiday ornaments sold will benefit Children’s Hospital.
“We all need help and it’s scary for us all. If children are brave enough to go through this and their family is going through this head high, then everybody and everyone should do everything they can to be a part of that,” says Mullan.
The project is near to Jason’s heart. His father, Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, is a Pediatric Oncologist in Washington D.C.
“I think it’s kind of ironic how I’ve bucked that system my whole life, and here I am, coming full circle and following in my father’s footsteps,” says Mullan.
Like his father, Jason is using care and love to help those in need.
“I can sell my art to anyone. They can hang it on their wall. Or I can do this. Give it to someone and touch their heart,” says Mullan.
The 2014 Royal Teddy Bear ornament will be revealed at a private reception at Hyph3n-Art Gallery this Wednesday. Two children’s hospital patients, Emma and Berkeley, will be on hand to witness the unveiling of the ornament. On December 3rd, they will ‘flip the switch’ to illuminate the Royal Sonesta’s wrought-iron balconies on Bourbon Street.
The ornament goes on sale on Wednesday, November 12th for $25. You can pick one up at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Hyph3n-Art Gallery or at Children’s Hospital.