Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Art Chair Project.

This is the chair I did. I chose to wallpaper it with paper from the entrance hall at, My Old Historic House.I felt it would represent the museum best that way.





The 1845 Historic Elgin/Cottrell House Museum, aka, My Old Historic House.


  My blog, My Old Historic House, is all about my home, the 1845 Historic Elgin/Cottrell House Museum. It is an adventure that I have been on since 2006. I started the blog adventure late 2010. Mostly it is about the old historic house,but often I include home town events and shopping experience. Today's blog is a Home Town Event. I live in Clarksville,Mo.It is a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi River. We have 490 citizens, give or take. It is a tight knit community where every body knows your name. A few years back a couple of of more concerned and energetic citizens worked hard to re- build most of our historic riverfront buildings. Part of there plan was to encourage artist to come live and work here in Clarksville. It worked and today we have a strong group of artist who make Clarksville there home and they all have studios and shops in the historic buildings. The artist work hard and have formed a guild to help promote the Arts and Clarksville. One event they have twice a year is, "50 Miles Of Art." You see there are 3 towns on this river that all have a strong art population. Clarksville, Louisiana and Hannibal. There is 50 miles between the three towns. So this celebration of art was born. This weekend is the Spring Art Studio Tour. All the shop owners have worked hard to do window displays, re- stock,put on demos and send out notices. Along with the event this year, the artist have come up with a special art project. I have dubbed it, "The Art Chair Project".We have a new artist, of which we are very proud. She and her husband have bought a church here in town. The membership was off, and the church had closed. We were all concerned about the building. But, it is in good hands now. Mary, the new artist, had a brainstorm of an art ideal. In the church was a group of chairs. She gave one to each artist and asked them to paint, decorate or create a design that represented there studio. I was luckily included. I wallpapered my chair, with paper from the Elgin/Cottrell House. The chairs are all on display this weekend in front of each shop or studio. The chairs are offered for sale, and the money will go toward advertisement. We had a beautiful day yesterday. The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze. People came from far and near to view the art. People were happily surprised to seek out the chairs all about of town.




This chair was hand painted and beaded by our own DiAnne. She is a Drum Painter by trade. This chair was designed after a Native American Rug weaving. Love the beads.


This chair was by our ceramic artist. It has hand made ceramic decorations.

This is for Clarksville Sun Flower Days. made by Trish at Clarksville Glass Works.

    The chairs are of many media and designs. Some were embellished with hand made ceramic ornaments. Others had had beading. One was wrapped with wild grape vines and decorated with Sun Flowers. You see, the Art Guild also has a sun flower festival.One chair had a skirt, mine was wallpapered,one was painted  with a Eagle.( Clarksville has Eagle Days in January, where people come to watch the nations bird fish in the Mississippi.)One chair  was purple and had a child's theme and  came with small decorative note books. All in all the chairs were a special delight and a big hit to the Studio Tour.



This one from  Cool Beans Coffee Shop.

Bent Tree gallery

Mary ,our newest artist

    I am sharing the chairs with you all today. I only wish you could be here in person to see the town, studios, shops and tour, My Old Historic House. The house was open yesterday and many people came and had a tour. We are at it again today. I hope we have lots and lots of tourist and people buy all the chairs. I know there are people with they eyes on several. Come soon and have a visit. We will all leave the lights on. Almost every studio or shop has a dog. So like Sissy Dog, they will all meet you with a jump and a kiss. In the mean time, Support The Arts. With out them, life could be rather beige.

Another Mary Original


DiAnne made two chairs for her gallery, Earth's Heart Beat. Old Yellow looking out.

Caron from the Windsor Chair Shop.












32 comments:

Stacy Leigh said...

Love it!!!!

Charlotte Wilson said...

Richard,
What a wonderful post about chairs and art! I loved viewing all of them and I see that you were inspired too.
I think I will be doing something similar! Thanks for sharing!

♥charlotte

Deanna said...

Howdy from Kansas.
Richard, The chairs are wonderful.

Sweet Blessings 2 u,
d

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Well, your chair is fabulous Richard.

I keep saying we need to drive up to Clarksville. We are sort of bogged down with landscaping, etc. Really should take a break from that, though!
Saw some delightfully familiar shop signs in your post.:-)

ornamentsbypink said...

Richard, you did a great job on decorating your chair! I love all those chairs and I like the shop signs too.
Mary

Betty said...

Richard, I LOVE your chair! My other favorite is the red Native American inspired chair trimmed with beads. In enjoyed seeing All the different creative chairs and store signage. How does your small community support all these businesses? Here, many specialty shops come and go and now we are in danger of losing our single art gallery! This was a fun post, thanks for sharing. Warm Hugs,

Rhissanna said...

What a wonderful feel of an artistic community your post gives. It must be lovely to be part of such a vibrant, creative place.

Anonymous said...

Hi Richard! Oh, I love your chair you've covered. What a wonderful fun town you live it. Sounds like you have something going on all of the time. One of these days I'm coming to Clarksville! ;)
Thanks for popping in and hope you've had a great weekend.
be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Linda McMullan said...

How marvelous! And Richard, I like your chair the best.

Hopefully, we will strike out soon to explore your area, and I can't wait to see the Old Historic House!

Gina @ VictorianWannaBe said...

How fun are those chairs?! I didn't even know about the event, I'm sorry I missed it! I'll have to check the Clarksville website and see what's next and come for a visit! Have a great day!

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

What a wonderful event. Love your chair..thought that print looked familar! Loved Cool Beans by the way. Hope you had a busy weekend.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great job on your chair and a fun way to do a fund raiser.
Thanks for stopping by. I too love the azaleas - wish they would last longer.
Have a great week.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Richard: I saw Gina from Victorian Wanna Be mentioned your name so I checked you out. Lovely blog and what a sweet town you live in. I love all the stories your townfolks are telling with the chairs and I love the dollhouse. I haven't read through all past posts, but I am really enjoying what I've seen so far. I hope you'll come visit the Cottage. You and Sissy will be very welcome..Happy Monday..Judy

xinex said...

Pretty chairs!..Christine

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Awesome chairs dearest Richard and yours is fab...such talent pal! They're all so amazing, I love, love chairs, I have a few special ones I've collected! I love the shop's signs too. Have a wonderful week.
FABBY

Sissysmom said...

What a great idea! I love your chair. Sounds like a great event so sad I live so far away!

Hope you and Sissy Dog have a super great week!

Michele

Anyes K. Busby - Studio Vignette Fine Art said...

Hello Richard,
Art event are so fun! I participated in one earlier this year, we were to use old skateboards for canvas. Your chairs are wonderful.
Very much enjoyed your lady in red, she has a kind expression.
Anyes
XX

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Richard,
Oh my stars...What fun you all had! The chairs are amazing and so creative, each and everyone of them is a piece of Art. Your town sounds so charming and a great place to shop. I enjoyed my visit today with you and Clarksville.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth

Civil Folks said...

Love the Art Chair project. Very unique and lovely.

Curtains in My Tree said...

Richard you are so talented, there's nothing you can't do ,fancy smacny like

Your chair just scream's RICHARD


wish I could have been there to see them all in person

victorian parlor II said...

The chairs are great but your chair is definately the prettiest!!!

Blessings,

Kim

Marcia said...

Thank you, Richard, for conveying the beauty and charm of our artsy little town! This place got in my blood 10 years ago and I love it so much here. Your documenting the chairs was wonderful; we will have to revisit this blog again to see how clever we all were with our 'chair creativity'!

Julie McDorman said...

Thank you for posting this blog. My sister,Mary,is your newest artist! I am very proud of her and am looking forward to visiting her newly remodeled art studio/church and the lovely town of Clarksville!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

What a gorgeous day and a wonderful town. You are blessed Richard. Of all those chairs I think I like yours the best and that's the honest truth. I think I am going to add visiting Clarksville to my bucket list. My list isn't very long yet so maybe I'll make it some day. Hope all is well with you and Sissy.

Ivy and Elephants said...

Hi Richard,
You did a fine job on your chair, I'd be more inclined to buy yours!
A fabulous project for a worthy cause. Now that's what I call a home town spirit!
Hugs,
Patti

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Richard, I absolutely LOVE the black one! I have a friend that has 18 (probably more now) chairs in her living room alone! I am a bit of a chair addict and always trying to fit just one more in.
I finally had to resort to childrens chairs! Great post!!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Richard,
Love the chairs! Yours is stunning and what a great idea!
I so wish that I lived closer and could come and visit your sweet little town and your beautiful home!!
In my post that will go up this afternoon, I am going to mention you and the Victorian Homes issue that you were just featured in so stop by later this evening...

Hugs,
Deb

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Love this chairs, Richard! Thanks my friend for your visit. Can't wait to see your post for your dinner party tomorrow. Happy preparations!
FABBY

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

What a wonderful idea and a great cause, Richard! Your chair turned out great too.

Love this post!
xox
A

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Clarksville looks like a great little town.

Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

What a very cool idea! I love your wallpapered chair, but all of them are beautiful as well! I hope a lot of money was raised. It's good to see artists coming together for a good cause.

-Pam

Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien said...

What a lot of fun that must have been! I really like the chair you did---it's toile!! Just my style!