Whimsical chairs
By Janna Odenthal Post-Tribune correspondent February 20, 2012 3:36PM
Haylee Corzan, an advanced art student at Chesterton Middle School in Chesterteron, Ind., adds touches to her storybook chair called “Where the Wild Things Are.” | Photo Provided
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Updated: March 22, 2012 8:03AM
While Mrs. Rabbit and her daughters gathered berries, Peter Rabbit climbed into the cabbage patch of Mr. McGregor’s garden once again — this time on a children’s storybook chair.
Chesterton Middle School advanced art students painted these scenes and other storybook characters on 20 wooden chairs as part of a community service project. They were sold at a fund-raising event to benefit Porter County Parents as Teachers organization.
“The chairs were absolutely beautiful,” said art teacher Jody Nix. “People really loved (the chairs). I think it was a win, win, win for everybody. It was a joint effort, a labor of love.”
On the back of a tan-colored chair, Curious George climbed across telephone wires. The seat was painted with an image of the monkey being hauled away by two police men. The paintings captured the antics of the character created by author H.A. Rey.
One bright green chair was adorned with unusual whimsical figures, similar to those found in Dr. Seuss books. Pink checkered creatures, furry long-necked beings and tiny bird-like animals are recognized by children and adults.
Another chair displays Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet and Eeyore surrounding Winnie the Pooh. On the chair back, Pooh is eating a bowl of honey.
Other chairs include paintings from “Bad Kitty,” by author Nick Bruel, “Pinkalicious,” by Elizabeth Kann, “The Hungry Little Caterpillar,” by Eric Carle and other popular children’s books.
Student Haylee Corzan painted several chairs, including “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak and others.
“When you take a certain amount of time on something you do, and you’re having fun while you’re doing it, you get attached to it. So I didn’t want to sell them at first,” Corzan said. “But it feels good to know that someone appreciates your work, and they want it. I feel respected that someone else has it.”
Westchester Public Library purchased four of the chairs for the children’s department. An image from “Goodnight Moon,” by Margaret Wise Brown, adorns a chair at Thomas library in Chesterton. Hageman library in Porter chose “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr., and others.
Hageman branch manager Suzanne Chomel said she liked that the youth gave back to the community.
“They’re really beautiful, and the children have enjoyed them,” said Chomel. “The children use them for puzzles and games and coloring and homework. That has been fun.”
Student Emma Stricker created Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” scene on a purple background. The Cheshire Cat grins on a seat of pink and lavender stripes.
“I like the characters and the colors in the book and the whole story line of how she falls into a whole magical world,” said Stricker. “I liked how you can transform an old wooden chair into a decorative piece of artwork. It feels nice to help raise money for Parents as Teachers. I really enjoyed the whole project.”
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