The 4th Annual Hannah's Chairs Event ~
2008 Auction Results

         For its fourth anniversary, the Hannah's Chairs event brought out 20 fabulous artist-decorated Adirondack chairs, some of which pushed the envelope of function in favor of fun with the art. Bidders loved it! The event began with the traditional chair preview period at 6:00 PM on Saturday, June 28th at the Hanover Inn, whose highly skilled staff catered and served the event. The food was fine and the company grand. The auction, presided over with high good humor by auctioneer Chuck Eaton of Eaton Auction Service, began a little after 7:00 PM. As always with this event, which has become one of the most eagerly-awaited cultural events of the Upper Valley summer season, the entire evening was a class act.

The event featured two child-sized Adirondack Chairs, "Rainbow" by Kathy Parsonnet and two residents of Hannah House (at left) and "Just Ducky" by Arleen Rutledge. The arms of the "Rainbow" chair featured flat magnetized cut-outs that could be lifted off the chair. The effect was reminiscent of a "Colorforms"™ set on the arms of an Adirondack Chair - a kid's dream! A Closeup of the arm of "Just Ducky" shows a charming puppy amid the baby ducks.

As the auction began, Executive Director Randy Walker explained that, while Hannah House is perhaps best known for its residential program, the proceeds from this year's Hannah's Chairs event have been earmarked to benefit Hannah House's local Outreach program to pregnant and parenting youth and their babies who continue to live in their neighborhoods of origin right here in the Upper Valley. Hannah Ruppertsberger's lovely "After Wild Poppies" went out at one of the highest bids of the evening. The artist is a Junior at Lebanon High School.                   As usual, the Adirondack art for Hannah's Chairs this year included the cleverly whimsical and the stunningly beautiful. And while there were some high prices achieved in bidding battles, there were also several sleepers that went out the door as bargains for the highest bidders. (Auction goers take note for next year!) Among the high rollers were two works by artists that have participated in Hannah's Chairs each year and whose work has achieved a reputation for special desirability: Ellen Shaw's reclining chaise featuring a lake scene with loons and Kit Farnsworth's stunning "The Pond," with its artistic renderings of shore birds, fish, and amphibian life, both tied for the highest bid of the evening, fetching $575 each. Kit Farnsworth's "The Pond" featured her signature 360-degree artistic tour de force. The chair was painted in exquisite detail, right down to the miniature Monarch butterfly and salamander on the front seat slat.          This year's auction also featured several innovative elements. Included in the live auction were autographed novels by famous local author Jodie Picoult, autographed children's books by the beloved Tomie DePaolo, and two framed, autographed poems by Maya Angelou - including what may be her most famous poem, "Still, I Rise," which went out at $310, rivaling prices achieved for the Adirondack Chairs. The evening also featured a silent auction component, with items ranging from water color paintings to hand-crafted jewelry to a Tiffany-style lamp. A well-subscribed teacup raffle, with prizes donated by local artisans and businesses, rounded out the evening.          To see larger photos and individual descriptions of each chair, simply click on the individual "thumbnail" photos in the matrix below. These chairs are well-worth the virtual tour!

Cheers to Our Underwriters!