Worn chairs are now works of art on display at Arts Center

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) "Sittin Pretty' co-chair Terri Schroeder shows the special feature on the pink "Hope" chair by artist Kara Grage. The chair is one of nearly 40 chairs on display at the Le Mars Arts Center which will be sold on silent auction with money raised to benefit the Arts Center. [Click to enlarge]

An idea to turn worn-out chairs into works of art has produced a colorful display of creativity at the Le Mars Arts Center.

"Sittin' Pretty" is the July display which features more than 40 artfully decorated chairs.

Project co-chairs Terri Schroeder and Becky Wiersma have been busy getting the chairs displayed and ready for a silent auction.

The display opened July 2 and continues to Aug. 8.

"The response has been wonderful," said Wiersma.

Schroeder had been collecting chairs since last summer in anticipation of the project. A letter to area artists, art teachers and students and others with "artistic flair" invited them to transform a chair into a work of art.

"A lot of people got their own chair," said Schroeder, who gathered chairs by attending auctions and sales, and by a word-of mouth.

The project began Feb. 7, when artists picked out their chair.

While some artists already had an idea, others told Schroeder they would wait for their chair to inspire them

"Kim Strohbeen said 'I see a flamingo' when she picked up her chair," said Schroeder. She pointed to the chair on display which now sports a pink flamingo.

"Everyone who picked up chairs was enthusiastic about the project," Schroeder said.

There was a lot of excitement for artists and the co-chairs as they waited to see the final products.

"You see people's passions," said Wiersma. "There are many bright colors here."

She added the silent auction gives an opportunity to area residents to own a conversation piece.

Remsen resident Kara Grage created a "Hope" chair done in pink.

"My mother-in-law, Rosie Grage, has breast cancer," Grage said in talking about her contribution. "After going through all her treatments, it just kind of inspired me."

After mulling over several ideas, she came up with the Hope chair, and included a hope chest under the chair's seat, which serves as the box's lid.

Grage, an artist, said she saw the Arts Center's project idea in the newspaper.

"I thought it would be a great opportunity to do get involved and also give back to the Arts Center," Grage added.

Schroeder pointed to another display, featuring chairs by students in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) class at Hinton Community Schools. The students worked individually and in small groups to create their collection which includes the "Hot Rod" desk chair, "Splash" chair, "Hawaiian" chair and a "Cat in the Hat" chair.

Audrey Scholten responded to the letter sent out about the "Sittin' Pretty" project and came up with her "Patriot" chair.

"I've had a lot of different ideas since I received the letter," Scholten said.

She picked up her chair from the Arts Center collection and began to dream. Some of her ideas wouldn't work because of the style of the chair.

"Actually, a gift of a wooden patriotic plate of natural wood gave me the idea," Scholten said. "That inspired me because the finish of the chair was pretty good, and I was able to preserve the natural wood finish with the painted stripes."

Cheryl Bolser of Le Mars created a "Dog Adoption" chair inspired by her love of dogs.

The Beta Sigma Phi Iota Chi chapter in Le Mars created an Army chair.

The mother of an America Bells 4-H Club member created a 4-H chair for the club to donate to the cause.

Lauri Taylor, who enjoys doing art projects, said it was the first time she had done a project such as the chair.

"We wanted to do something for the Arts Center because the club holds its meetings at the Arts Center," Taylor explained.

The chair features the 4-H Pledge on the seat and is done in 4-H green and white.

One of the more unusual is Stephen George's "Face Chair," which features a face on the seat and unique feet on the chair legs. George is the art teacher at Remsen-Union Schools.

"It's a different way to look at a regular item in the home and create another form of art," said Schroeder. "It's been so fun."

Most of the chairs are the wooden dining room table variety. There are also a couple of folding chairs, a metal stool, and some children's chairs.

Each chair is accompanied by a "before" picture and a sheet on which individuals may place a silent bid for the chair.

Bidding continues through Aug. 8 at the Arts Center.

Some of the chairs will be taken to the Art Center's Lyceum building in Pioneer Village, while pictures of others will be available so bids may be made during the Plymouth County Fair July 29 to Aug. 2.

A "Meet the Artist" reception will be held Aug. 8, at which time people may make their final bids before winning bidders are announced.

Hours at the Arts Center are 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.