8 ARTISTS 8 PAINTED CHAIRS
PHOTOS BY CARY HAZLEGROVE
Island artists Joan Albaugh, Kasia Baker, Joanna Kane, John Lochtefeld, Edwin Rudd, Christine Sanford, Sherre Wilson-Rae, and Jeanne Van Etten have each painted a chair for a raffle to benefit the Nantucket Lighthouse School.

The chairs will be on tour this spring and summer at various island merchants and galleries including the Chanticleer, Johnston's Cashmere, Pinwheels, Murray's Toggery, Nantucket Bookworks, Quidley & Company, and Patina. All eight chairs and some of their artists will be at an opening at South Wharf Gallery on July 5 and another opening at Old Spouter Gallery on July 10.

Island artist and Lighthouse School parent Cary Hazlegrove brought the concept for the event to the Lighthouse School.

"The 8 Painted Chairs raffle and event concept came from a desire to find new, unusual and innovative ways to fundraise for the Lighthouse School. We are constantly trying to think outside the box. My mother had participated in a similar fundraiser in Virginia to support the Roanoke Symphony. Instead of chairs, they painted violins. I thought the chairs lent themselves beautifully to our extremely talented artists," said Hazlegrove. "All eight painters have a deep connection to Nantucket. We have a beautiful body of work from all of them and I am very grateful the artists who did such a lovely job supporting the Lighthouse School." concept innovative

Artist Christine Sanford says the Lighthouse School's curriculum inspired her to support the school with her chair, titled "In My Studio."

"I support the Lighthouse School because of their emphasis on teaching methods which encourage children to connect their minds to their hearts and to their hands," said Sanford.

Artist Jeanne Van Etten painted her chair to support the Lighthouse School, "… because they inspire their students to think freely and creatively."

Artist Edwin Rudd added, "When asked to participate in the 8 Painted Chairs fundraiser I readily accepted for two reasons. Firstly my son attends the Lighthouse School and I strongly support their philosophy. He is receiving an amazing education. Secondly, as a watercolor artist I knew it would prove to be a very challenging project for me. I decided to do 'Fancy Pants' because I have always thought of Nantucket reds as such a part of Nantucket and the Lighthouse School as a part of our community. I thought it would great to tie the two together in a fun and recognizable way. It was worth every layer of paint on my chair."

"Art is a primary medium of expression for young children and so it is integrated throughout the Lighthouse curriculum to enhance academic instruction and to hone the imagination," said Lighthouse School Co-Founder and Director of Education, Lizbet Carroll Fuller. Art engages the whole person, head, heart and hand in the thought process. We are thankful to these eight island artists for contributing their talents in support of the Nantucket Lighthouse School."

Raffle tickets will be sold now through August 6. They are $10 each, with the drawing of winners taking place on Wednesday, August 6. Diana Kim England Goldsmiths will host a cocktail reception, on Aug. 6 at 7:30 pm. Tickets to the reception are available for purchase at the Nantucket Lighthouse School for $75 each. The reception will feature fine food and libations, live music and an opportunity to meet some of the chair artists. Eight Painted Chairs raffle tickets are available for purchase at Nantucket Lighthouse School, Patina, Diana Kim England Goldsmiths, Annye's Whole Foods and Nantucket Bookworks.

Call the Lighthouse School at 228-0427 for event and raffle tickets and for more information or visit www.nantucketlighthouseschool.org.

Nantucket Lighthouse School is an independent day school serving children ages 3 1/2 to 12 years of age. Founded in 1999 by educator Lizbet Carroll Fuller and parent Elizabeth Sundell, Lighthouse School provides a developmentally appropriate education that engages the whole child - head, heart and hand.

Photos Page 15, clockwise from top, left: Artists Joan Albaugh, John Lochtefeld, Jeanne Van Etten, Christine Sanford, Edwin Rudd, Kasia Baker, Joanna Kane and Sherre Wilson-Rae.