Ataste for art

Have lunch surrounded by scenes from Aesop’s Fables.

FORTLAUDERDALE— They’remore than just picnic tables: They’re twenty-five pieces of art.

And onWednesday, Karen Demara and her two daughters picked their favorite table to sit and enjoy their ice cream. They’re “fantastic,” Demara said.

The city ofWest Palm Beach recently debuted an art project called Aesop’s Tables, which depicts 25 of Aesop’s Fables, stories attributed to a storyteller in ancientGreece. The tables will be auctioned Aug. 31, and the proceeds will benefit 25 charities across Palm Beach County.

Ten-year-old Lily Demara, and her older sister Sophia Demara, 13, had just grabbed two cups of ice cream fromSloan’s ice cream shop, beforewalking toward theWest Palm Beachwaterfront to unwind.

Karen Demara, 45, led them to the set of 25 picnic tables, choosing to sit at Lily’s favorite: amulti-colored table, whose top depicts a mischievous brown beaglewith a purple shoe in its mouth.

“It reflects a lot ofmy personality,” Lily said. “I’m kind of sneaky, but also fun.”

Mary Pinak, the city’s community relations manager, said the city reached out to artists for the project.

Passers-by can find and dine at the “gorgeous and different” tables and “break bread together,” Pinak added.

If anyonewants to own a table, an auction will take place during the city’s Clematis By Night at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31.

The bidding starts at $250, and all proceeds will go to charities that include Sister Cities of Delray Beach, and Cultural Council and Adopt-A-Family, both based in LakeWorth.

SharonKoskoff, a 40-year muralist and designer, is one of 19 participating artists. She

took a lighter approach in painting the mischievous dog fable that describes a dog that bites the heel of everyone he meets.

IfKoskoff’s table is sold, all proceeds will go to Adopt-A-Family, an organization that provides services to homeless families.

She hopes that people will take the time to enjoy the art before it’s gone, she said.

“We all put our heart in them,” Koskoff said. “It’s not just ‘look at that pretty table,’ but it’s functional art.”

Karen Demara said she’s considering buying one, or “maybe one for everybody in our family.”

WEST PALM BEACH/COURTESY The city ofWest Palm Beach recently debuted an art project called Aesop’s Tables, which depicts 25 of Aesop’s Fables, stories attributed to a storyteller in ancient Greece.

JACEK GANCARZ/COURTESY Artist Tiffany Beasi sits with the Jay and the Peacock, one of two of Aesop’s fables she painted on a picnic table, as part of an art project inWest Palm Beach. The 25 picnic tables decorated by artists will be auctioned for charity during the city’s...