Voting open for annual Chair Affair fundraiser
Artist Terry Blodgett's chair and table sits in front of Isabella County Credit Union in downtown Mount Pleasant.
Pieces of furniture cut, sculpted and transformed by local artists are now on display throughout downtown Mount Pleasant.
Art Reach of Mid Michigan's annual "Chair Affair" began Wednesday with the display of more than 40 pieces of furniture, including Adirondack chairs, benches and tables. The pieces will be on display until July 25. Gift Shop and Gallery Coordinator for Art Reach Kim Bigard said the event has been going on for around 10 years.
"We were just looking for a fundraiser for Art Reach," she said. "We run on donations, so it gets funds for us, but there's a takeaway. It's fun for the community to go out and look at the chairs--they can make a day of it."
Proceeds from the public art exhibit and silent auction benefit children's programs provided by Art Reach. Bigard said they have received bids from $50 to $500 on the furniture during past events.
Mount Pleasant resident Terry Blodgett was one of the chair artists for this year's event. Blodgett, who has participated in Chair Affair for five years, painted an Adirondack chair with a matching table. Each is painted light blue and accented with bees and purple flowers.
"I love flowers, and the design just kind of came into my head," she said. "I took the straight pieces off of the original chair traced the design onto it. Then I used a jigsaw to carve out the design."
You can place bids on each piece of furniture until the display ends and vote on your favorite piece until July 24. Bidding and voting can be done at Art Reach of Mid Michigan on 111 E. Broadway Street.
Winners of the People's Choice Award and juried awards will be announced in the afternoon on July 24. The chairs will also be on display outside of Art Reach during the sidewalk sales and Arts & Crafts festival, which will be running July 23-25.
Founded in 1981, Art Reach of Mid Michigan's mission is to foster the arts and bring better understanding of them to the community. The gallery and gift shop is open 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Art Reach also hosts events and classes.
