Nativity art on display at The Folk Tree

As the holidays approach, folks around the Foothills will have an opportunity to view myriad interpretations of the traditional nativity scene at the 22nd annual International Nativities Exhibition, which runs this week through Dec. 31 at The Folk Tree, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., in Pasadena.

A book-signing event also is planned at The Folk Tree, from 2 to 6 p.m., which will feature local artist and illustrator Patricia Krebs, of La Crescenta. Krebs will be signing copies of the books she has illustrated: “Zee Adventure One: Borrowing China,” by Marcie Gilbert and “Circus Fever” by Alva Sachs.

In addition to creating the art for children’s literature, Krebs creates a variety of art pieces, some of which will be on display during the nativities exhibit.

Krebs, 32, grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina and attended a children’s art, music and drama school as well as an elementary school as a child. She later graduated from an arts high school there and specialized in painting at the National School of Fine Arts before transferring to the National University Institute of Arts, where she earned a degree in contemporary visual arts.

Twelve years ago, Krebs was singing with a band in Argentina when she met Emeliano Almeida, a drummer, whom she later married. Almeida persuaded Krebs to move to the United States seven years ago. “I didn’t want to at first,” she admitted, adding that her fears were finally conquered and she left the rest of her family to make a home with her husband in the land of opportunity.

The couple has lived in La Crescenta with their German shepherd dog, Nebur, for the past three years.

At her first art exhibit in the area, Krebs sold a painting to a woman who was working to create a television show. That project never got off the ground, but morphed into the “Zee” book, which, Krebs said, she enjoyed illustrating. She also created a “Zee” puppet and figurine, which she will take with her for the book signing, to help tell the story of the fictional little girl who is sent by her mother to borrow a piece of dinnerware and misunderstands and ends up on an adventure attempting to borrow the country of China.

Gail Mishkin, owner of The Folk Tree, came upon Krebs’ artwork at an exhibit in Eagle Rock and asked her to be part of the nativities display. “[Krebs] is a wonderful children’s book illustrator, artist and accomplished musician,” Mishkin said.

Krebs’ nativity sets and Christmas ornaments also are unique unto themselves. Created with recyclable items — such as natural seeds and pine-cones — the individual characters are small but enjoyable. “I pick up things and I make them into characters,” she said, adding, “They are all my own interpretation, and I call what I pick up — pine-cones, seeds — my La Crescenta art supplies.”