APPLETON (NBC 26) — Visitors will find more than 80 artistically decorated chairs throughout downtown Appleton this weekend.
Empty chairs signify a warm welcome, said Lynn Hardy, marketing director for Appleton Downtown Inc.
"Chairs, when they're used in art, represent a welcoming invitation to either sit and enjoy, or hang out for a little bit with your friends and family," she said. "So we decided to have that kick off our summer event season here in downtown Appleton."
Appleton Downtown Inc. is displaying Artful Chairs as the second in a four-part, open-air, walkable Downtown Creates event series.
The community creation competition invited local residents, artists, nonprofits, families, students and more to transform wooden chairs into masterpieces, Hardy said. Most of the chairs were picked up at local thrift stores and painted by students at the Boys and Girls Club as well as local artists.
"Lots of creativity was used here," she said. "Some of them added gems, there's paint, there's one that used gold leaf on it... we've got one that was turned into a little theatre with little puppets that you put behind the chair and the seat's the stage. So lots of creativity behind these chairs."
People can stroll the downtown district to see the chairs through Sunday, June 20. Hardy said people can feel free to sit on the chairs as well, as long as they're respectful of the art.
