Seven local artists have donated their time and talents to creating custom Adirondack chairs for the 5th annual Encompass Take a Seat for Kids Project.
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the chairs will not be displayed in person around the Snoqualmie Valley as they have been in past years, but interested buyers can still view and bid on the chairs online. The online catalog is available for viewing now, and online bidding opened at 9:00 am on June 21, 2021. Additionally, the chairs will be available for bidding through 9:00 pm on June 28 as a fundraiser for Encompass programs.
This year’s artists—Pepper Allphin, Hailey Carnes, Mary Grigg-Colter, Ricardo Espinoza, Katie Kanzler, Maddy Mangra, and Grace Rigoni—have transformed plain wooden chairs into beautiful and functional art pieces. In addition, the designs of several sets of chairs are inspired by nature, making them perfect for a porch or backyard.
Allphin captured nature and spring in both her full-size chairs with Birds of Spring and the kids’ chairs Whimsical Birds. These can be purchased separately or will make a fun set for any backyard. Carnes’ set Birch Forest features a bold backdrop with enchanting white trees and bright red cardinals. At the same time, Kanzler’s Dragonflies in the Reeds depicts an ecosystem of sea and sky with dragonflies frolicking among the reeds.
Grigg-Colter’s Hues of Fire invite you to gather around the fire pit to relax and rejuvenate, and the flowers in Rigoni’s Backyard Re-tree-transport you to a place of peace and tranquility. Mangra’s set Kaleid captures the beauty of the northwest with bold colors and a wood-burning technique, while Espinoza’s Columbine draws inspiration from purple Columbine flowers known to attract hummingbirds. Maddy Mangra is a regular contributing artist for Take a Seat for Kids and enjoys the opportunity it provides for her to give to others.
“When you get the opportunity to do something you love for a good cause, how can you say no?” said Mangra. “I was initially referred to Take a Seat for Kids by a coworker, and after the first pair of chairs, I was hooked! It was a great excuse to do what I love and give back to the community. Shout out to Alex Lennon and Woody Nelson for all of their support this year!“
Visit encompassnw.org/take-a-seat-for-kids to learn more about the project and to bid on these chairs starting June 21! Thank you to Ace Hardware of North Bend for generously donating the Adirondack chairs for this project, and thank you to all of our artists for donating your time and talent to create these beautiful works of art.
