Foundation message is that 'Life is great on Highway 8'

The Chisago Lakes Community Foundation is sponsoring the Chisago Chairs project, as part of its “Life is great on Highway 8!” campaign. Local businesses and organizations will sponsor Adirondack-style chairs being made locally and painted by area artists. The chairs will be displayed along the Highway 8 corridor, from Chisago City to Taylors Falls, July through September. They will be sold to residents and visitors, via an ongoing silent auction, as a fundraiser for the foundation.

But the main purpose of the chairs is to encourage residents and visitors to explore Chisago Lakes, visit shops and restaurants, and discover all that this area have to offer! Special oversized chairs will also be prominently displayed at public locations, to attract attention and as a fun photo opportunity “Chisago Chairs” is well underway, and the foundation is currently seeking sponsors to offset the cost of materials and promotional media.

The modified Adirondack-style chairs were designed by Roger Trivette, a member of the Chisago Lakes Rotary Club who has volunteered his time to build a prototype, and lead a group of volunteers at the Studios of Art, on the Parmly campus. They have been busy sawing, sanding, and assembling the chairs, and soon, the first 15 chairs will be primed. Once the chairs are primed with weather resistant paint, the chairs will be hand-painted by area artists, with unique themes using eye-catching exterior paint colors. Members of the foundation board have been meeting with local organizations and cities to make them aware of the campaign, which is intended to bring our communities together. “Chisago Chairs” will showcase local artists of all ages, and help create a sense of community pride.

Expect to hear more about this campaign in the coming months. In the meantime, if you’re interested in volunteering your time to help build the chairs, just come to the Studios of Art, 10720 282nd Street in Chisago City, on Monday afternoons from 1-4 PM. If you want to know more about the project, or have questions about sponsorship, please contact a member of the Chisago Chairs Committee: Noel Stensrud 651 257-3245, Brenda Palmquist 651 208-6793, or Lou Ann Mattson 651 257-6270. Sponsorship donation forms are available at the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber office in Lindstrom.