Painted chairs auction to raise funds for future ag museum

Historical Society to honor artists, kick off auction at Thursday reception

The Yuma County Historical Society is holding a fundraiser to benefit the future Yuma County Agriculture Museum. Chairs painted by local artists will be auctioned off April 25-30, with a kickoff reception held Thursday.

Five artists have painted adirondack chairs with different scenes from the Yuma area.

“The chairs are truly works of art and are exquisite,” noted Mary Campbell, YCHS board member. “It is as though these chairs were their canvas and they created masterpieces. I’m excited to share this with our Yuma community.”

The chairs will be auctioned online from Thursday through Tuesday to raise funds for the ag museum to be built in the Molina Block on Madison Avenue in historic downtown Yuma.

The Yuma County Historical Society, which now operates officially as a separate entity from the Arizona Historical Society, will be having a special reception honoring the artists at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at the Sanguinetti Museum and Gardens, 240 S. Madison Ave.

The YCHS will also be having a plumeria sale at that time.

The painted chairs will be made available to the highest bidder . The online auction will run for five days, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, and ending at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30.

“I’m so excited to have our community see the painted chairs,” Campbell said.

Once the online auction opens, people interested in bidding on a painted chair can go to http://yumachairart.givesmart. com or text “Yumachairart” to 76278 to register on the Givesmart online auction site.

Campbell is also looking forward to honoring “these very special women who are truly exceptional in their work and generosity.”

The artists are Jean Davidson, Lorenia Gutierrez-casaus, Louise Fleurs, Lia Littlewood and Rebecca Taylor.

“All are incredibly talented artists, three of which are local high school art teachers,” Campbell said, referring to Jean Davidson, Lorenia Gutierrez-casaus and Becky Taylor.

“Another is an art instructor and muralist (Lia Littlewood), and one is an illustrator/artist that is up and coming and has a position at the Yuma Territorial Prison ( Louise Fleurs),” she explained.

“All amazing people that give so much to our community. They have donated so much time to the project, but they also have given so much to our students over the years,” she added.

Here is more information on the artists and their painted chairs:

• Jean Davidson, Somerton High School art teacher, A Starry Nights-themed chair titled “Historic Old Town Yuma”

• Louise Fleurs, illustrator specializing in desert plants – “Desert After Spring Rains”

• Lorenia Gutierrez-casaus, San Luis High School art teacher – Colorado River/ bass fishing -themed chair titled “Down By The River”

• Lia Littlewood, muralist and art instructor, chair titled “Cowboy on the Colorado”

• Rebecca Taylor, high school art teacher, muralist: agriculture-themed chair titled “From Dawn to Dusk, A Farmer’s Life”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY CAMPBELL/YCHS YUMA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY will auction off these chairs painted by local artists to raise funds for the future Yuma County Agriculture Museum.

REBECCA TAYLOR, a high school art teacher and muralist, painted an agriculture-themed chair titled “From Dawn to Dusk, A Farmer’s Life.”

LORENIA GUTIERREZ-CASAUS, a San Luis High School art teacher , painted a Colorado River/bass shing-themed chair titled “Down By The River.”

JEAN DAVIDSON, a Somerton High School art teacher, painted a Starry Nights-themed chair titled “Historic Old Town Yuma.”

LOUISE FLEURS, an illustrator specializing in desert plants, painted a chair titled “Desert After Spring Rains.”

LIA LITTLEWOOD, a muralist and art instructor, painted a chair titled “Cowboy on the Colorado.”