Ornaments created by five Nevada artists are on the White House Christmas tree this year -- including one by Larry Williamson of Virginia City.
Nevada First Lady Dema Guinn said the ornament designs all follow the theme "All Creatures Great and Small" as requested by First Lady Laura Bush.
Nevada's ornaments, Guinn said, are images of indigenous Nevada birds.
"We share this art with the rest of the nation, providing a greater appreciation for the natural beauty and artistic genius that live within our state," she said.
Williamson selected what he said is his favorite bird, the rufous-sided towhee.
Jose Bellver of Pahrump designed an ornament based on the northern cardinal. Sharon Shafer of Boulder City used the cactus wren as her subject, and Joanne Vuillemot of Henderson based hers on the Nevada state bird, the mountain bluebird. Zoria Zetaruk of Las Vegas contributed a hand-painted egg ornament depicting a rooster.
The Nevada Arts Council helped put together the program and selected the ornaments for presentation in Washington, D.C.