Story tools: E-mail story | Printer-friendly | iPod friendly

Interfaith Caregivers seeking artists for 'Chair-ity' auction

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Instead of having just an ordinary charity event, the Interfaith Caregivers of South Lee, Inc., searched for something new and different. They found it in chairs.

Special to the Banner

A fish chair for charity, made by Carol Warren.

On Feb. 17, as part of the Greater Estero Cultural Arts Council's annual Arts in Estero event, ICSL will have a "Chair-ity," and the group is looking for artists.

"It's such a different thing for Interfaith Caregivers to do. We're excited about it," said Marianne See, ICSL board member.

ICSL feeds the hungry, guides the young, visits the sick and aids the needy through community outreach program, in Estero, Island Park, Three Oaks and San Carlos Park. All proceeds from the Chair-ity Auction will help fund programs at the Estero United Way House, run by ICSL, which is a United Way partner agency.

The group hopes to contact as many artists and crafters as they can to donate, paint and decorate a chair. They have sent out mailings from Lee County all the way to Naples and Marco Island.

In all, ICSL hopes to collect 50 chairs for the auction. Right now the agency has three chairs.

"They can decorate it any way they want," See said. "It can be a high chair, stool, a bar chair, a director's chair. It's totally up to the artist."

ICSL is hoping to have commitments from artists by Dec. 18, but if someone wants to donate an artistically made chair after that, they will accept it.

Carol Warren, of Fort Myers, helped ICSL by decorating three chairs to show what they are looking for. Warren, who usually quilts, said creating an artistic chair was full of inventiveness.

Special to the Banner

Carol Warren designed three chairs for Interfaith Caregivers of South Lee, Inc., including this cat-themed seat.

"Nothing was difficult," Warren said. "It was just a fun, creative thing."

On her three chairs, she used materials such as paint, paper materials and watered down glue to protect the chair from weather. One chair she made featured a fish, and another was cat-themed.

Warren's first chair, a red child's rocking chair, features a safari theme.

"It's our poster chair," See said. "It is stunning."

The donated chairs will be sold at a silent auction as part of the Arts Estero 2007 festival at Estero Community Park. The chairs will be on final display under a tent on the park grounds, where bids will be taken. Before the event, chairs will also be on display around town in retail shops.

"We are so excited about this unique event for it will provide our local artists and crafters an opportunity to donate their talents to a worthy cause, while expressing their creativity, not on canvas, but on chairs," See said.

Special to the Banner

Interfaith Caregivers of South Lee, Inc. is seeking artists for its Chair-ity Silent Auction at the Arts in Estero 2007 in February. This chair was made by Fort Myers artist Carol Warren.

For more information on the Chair-ity or donating artistic skills for the event, contact Marianne See at 590-0090.

Artists needed

Arts Estero is seeking artists for its Juried Fine Art celebration "Arts in Estero 2007," which will be held on Feb. 17, inside the Recreation Center at the new Estero Community Park.

There is a show fee of $50, plus a $20 jurist fee.

Arts in Estero 2007 will also have an un-juried area in a large pavilion for artists and crafters to display and sell their work. The craft show fee is $50.

This daylong celebration of cultural arts will offer many activities and displays for all ages and interests. A variety of live performances on the amphitheater stage plus information tables from various art and cultural organizations in the Estero area will be offered to the public that day.

In addition, food booths, children's face painting, clowns, art displays from several venues, artistic demonstrations, a craft sale and a "Pre-Loved Art" tent sale, will top out the second annual event.

Spaces are limited for the juried art show, and artists are advised to get their applications in now. Application forms for the Juried Fine Arts Show and the craft show are available at www.artsestero.org, or by calling (239) 498-0678, or by e-mail to beverlyann@comcast.net.