Library Chair Auction

If you haven't been down to the library in awhile, you should just to check out the chairs. Here is a story I swiped from the Library Facebook page.

This summer, youth at the Roland Public Library brought some of their favorite children’s literature characters to life with many layers of acrylic paint.



The library’s chair project was a collaboration between middle school and high school youth, library staff and Tempest Kuykendall, retired Roland-Story art instructor and current library board member.



In May, the Roland Public Library moved into its new location, at 221 N. Main Street and in June, the library had a large garage sale at the old location to get rid of outdated furniture and miscellaneous items. “Leftover were a number of old wooden chairs from the library’s attic,” Kuykendall said. “Instead of throwing them out, we decided to have our teen program participants paint the chairs, then sell them in the fall as a fundraiser for the library.”



Children's Librarian Kim Auld and Kuykendall had youth pick out their favorite book, then sketch out an idea before they began to paint. “Each student chose a chair, sanded off the varnish and gave their chair a coat of white gesso paint, then we showed them how to sketch their idea (in pencil) on the chair,” Kuykendall said. After those first initial steps, youth applied acrylic paint. When they finished, Kuykendall showed them out to use a fine-tipped permanent marker to add detail.



Madison Aukes, an eighth grader at Roland-Story, created two chairs based on the books “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Olivia.” “I chose those books because they were read to me when I was younger and I really like them,” Aukes said. She said the “Olivia” chair, which features the quirky little pig and black and red paint splatters, took her only 10 minutes to create, but that she spent more time on Max and the Wild Things. Aukes got involved in the project because she loves art. “It was a lot of fun, I hope they have more projects (in the future) that involve art.”



Fifteen youth were involved in the project and 19 chairs will be put up for auction. Kuykendall, Auld and Roland Public Library Director Laura Urbanek all created chairs for the silent auction. “It was a big challenge for all, but a very fun and rewarding project. I think some of the participants may have even found out how much they like painting,” Kuykendall said. “The chairs are on display in the front entrance at the library. Come check them out!”



The silent auction will take place from Nov. 1 – Nov. 24, bidding for each chair starts at $20. All proceeds will benefit the library's teen program and collection. To place a bid, or for more information, contact the library at 515-388-4086 or via email at rolandlib@globalccs.net.



Silent Auction participants:

Chelsea Steward – “Barbie Fairytopia”

Zach Steward – “Twlight”

Jacob Kalkwarf – “Bones”

Shayla Danielson - “Hunger Games”

Mia Soderstrum – “Scooby Doo”

Shelby Hickman & Carly Bright – “Winnie the Pooh”

Madison Aukes – “Where the Wild Things Are”

Madison Aukes – “Olivia”

Simon Phelps - “Calvin and Hobbes”

Caleb Jordison – “Garfield Makes it Big”

Riley Auld – “101 Dalmatians”

Tess Urbanek – “The Going to Bed Book”

Megan Van Brocklin – “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See?”

Anna Humphrey – “Little Critters”

Maddie Urbanek – “The Legend of Zelda”

Children’s Librarian Kim Auld – “Jack and the Bean Stalk”

Library Director Laura Urbanek – “I Spy the Library”

Library Board Member Tempest Kuykendall - “My Crayons Talk” & “No, David!”