ARTFULLY PAINTED TREASURES TO BE AUCTIONED JULY 31st
PHOTO CUTLINE: Norway Savings Bank Executive Vice President and CIO Holly Young stands with Artists Guy Prestia (Left) and Barbara Traficonte at the windows of the Norway Savings Bank Operations Center at 265 Main Street where the chairs they painted for a special Western Maine Art Group fundraiser called "Chair-ity" will be on a preview exhibit for the month of July.
NORWAY – Save the date for CHAIR-ity July 31, 2009: A very special summer auction of artfully painted chairs by Western Maine artists.
The Western Maine Art Group will hold a gala fundraising event on the evening of July 31 at the Lajos Matolcsy Arts Center at 480 Main Street in Historic Norway Village at 5:30 PM.
A variety of 100 year-old grange chairs, donated to the WMAG by Suzanne Grover, have been artfully hand-painted by a dozen Western Maine Artists with unique and original designs ranging from flowers and still life, to woodland, animal and water scenes. Artists include: Jose Garcia, Kathy Kennedy, Barbara Traficonte, Guy Prestia, Lios Witham, Emmy Andersson, Pam Morra, Ron Hamilton, Aranka Matolcsy and Ryan Dean, among others. In addition, a lovely watercolor by WMAG founder Lee Bean donated to the group for fundraising will also be auctioned.
“These chairs are gorgeous! And each one tells it’s own story. One of the artists even found a photo from the late 1800s wedged into a crack on the side of the chair which he preserved to go along with the chair when it is auctioned. These pieces of unique art will truly become treasures to their new owners,” said WMAG Director Aranka Matolcsy.
The chairs will be displayed for preview in the Norway Savings Bank Operation Center Windows for the month July. Fine food and drink will be served and there will also be a silent auction of art and other items.
Tickets cost $25 per person. All proceeds will go toward the operations of the nonprofit WMAG and the maintenance if its gallery and teaching space. FMI: www.TheWMAG.org. westernmaineartgroup@gmail.com or 207-739-6161