Art students create ‘Chairs for Chairity’

Among the 40 artists presenting original chairs for auction at the Madison Art Center’s first-ever “Chairs for Chairity” fundraiser Thursday, April 22, will be 21 UW–Madison art students and their instructor, Jim Dietz.

The students, mostly undergraduates, are taking Dietz’s beginning and advanced woodworking classes. Dietz says students were required to modify a basic wooden chair. The results range from sculptural to the functional. For example, one student replaced the legs and back of her chair with elaborately carved wooden animal legs. She topped off the project with a white synthetic fur cushion and a wooden horn.

Dietz’s own entry will be more practical, he says: “I inserted a slot or a pencil and pad into one of the chair legs — I have a cordless phone, but I never seem to have anything nearby to take messages on. I thought this might solve the problem,” he says.

The gala will feature music by the Joel Adams Quartet, live and silent auctions, a People’s Choice Award and refreshments. Tickets, $15 in advance and $20 at the door, are available from Barbara Banks, (608) 257-0158.