Vandora Springs Elementary fifth grader Elizabeth Lambert paints a chair that is inspired by the work of Georgia O'Keeffe. Lambert's work, along with about 40 more chairs modeled after famous artists, will be sold at a silent auction on Thursday, April 19.
Want to see works of art from Monet, Van Gogh or O’Keeffe? You won’t have to travel far. Vandora Springs Elementary will hold its annual Chairs of Hope silent auction on April 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the auction will go to Garner’s Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.
“It’s just one of the outreach projects our school does to help the community,” event organizer and Vandora Springs Elementary art teacher Jim Hunt said.
In its sixth year at Vandora Springs, this year’s theme is famous artists. Art Club students received their artists in October and did research to prepare for the project. Since January, students have met weekly to work on 20 chairs for the event and have demonstrated an amazing sense of commitment and dedication.
“All of them are done and they look absolutely fantastic,” Hunt said. “I’m really proud of what our kids do. They work hard at it.”
Hunt even painted one that was inspired by Andy Warhol and dedicated it to Scotty McCreery. He hopes to get the chair signed by Garner’s American Idol to help raise even more funds toward the $3,000 goal.
“Hopefully, we’ll raise a lot of money for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society,” Hunt said.
In all, there will be about 42 chairs up for auction between the works from the Vandora students, school staff, local groups and some media outlets like WRAL and News 14.
Past themes have included North Carolina, books, movies and music titles from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Originally, Hunt borrowed the idea from Jane Robertson when she taught at Fuquay-Varina Middle School. Hunt worked at Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary in Fuquay-Varina at the time and used the project as an outreach to the community. The raised funds went to a different charity each of the six years Hunt put together the program at Lincoln Heights.
Hunt spends his summers combing through yard sales in search for about 30 to 35 wooden chairs for the project and Smithfield Barbecue usually donates five or six chairs each year.
Vandora Springs Elementary students also participate in the Empty Bowl Project during the autumn. Students make bowls from clay and they are able to buy their work with nonperishable food items that are donated locally to help fight hunger.
“It just gives our kids another chance to use their talents to help the community,” Hunt said.
For more information on the Chairs of Hope silent auction, go to www.chairsofhope.webs.com.
Contact Kelly Griffith at kgriffith@heartlandpublications.com or 919-552-5675.
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