Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium is inviting local artists to create and design a chair for their upcoming Chair Project auction for the chance to win a prize and to support Sanctuary, Inc.
Milkweed is a local store home to a wide variety of products such as art by local creators, wellness items, teas, books and much more. Sanctuary is a nonprofit that operates in the Pennyrile Region and provides support and resources to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Julie-Anna Carlisle, the owner of Milkweed, says the idea for the Chair Project came up when she was discussing fundraising ideas with Heather Lancaster, the director of Sanctuary. Carlisle says the project is a silent auction and art party where all of the proceeds go toward Sanctuary’s mission.
Artist submitted chairs will be auctioned off and will also be considered for awards. Best of show receives $300, runner up receives $150, honorable mention receives $75 and the artist with the chair that gets the highest bid receives a gift basket.
In the past, Carlisle says she saw an art exhibit that invited artists to design a chair and liked the idea. When thinking about chairs, Carlisle says they provide support, similarly to how Sanctuary supports victims of assault.
As of Wednesday, Carlisle says they are set to have 32 chairs submitted to the auction and are looking for more. Along with individual artists, Carlisle says businesses have come together to create a chair.
The chair registration deadline is April 1 and the auction and art party are set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 18 at Milkweed. Guidelines and registration are available at milkweedstore.com.
