Utica, N.Y. – On Saturday, September 12, 2009, over 200 guests enjoyed the 20th Anniversary CHAIRity Auction extravaganza, and joined generous corporate sponsors to help raise an unprecedented $56,000 for the artists’ programs! Seventy-six international and local artists donated works of art, and area businesses and individuals contributed diverse and compelling objects and services for the silent auction. Creative Chef Catering organized delicious hors d’oeuvres, joined by outstanding area restaurants in donating appetizers and dishes.

Highlights included the presentation of the Mayor’s Award to five-time winner Joel Grimaldi; the creative Earth Day Collection sponsored by Empire Recycling; the raffle drawing for two weeks in England; and the Grand Prize drawing (free) for a weekend house in Lake Placid.

Internationally reknown artists included the globally-recognized artist couple, Christo and Jeanne Claude, with an iconic 1960s lithograph featuring a “wrapped” Vespa; sculptor Grace Knowlton, whose signature spheres were represented by her curvilinear metal CHAIRity sculpture; NYC-based Christy Rupp, whose Watershed piece depicts endangered turtles; and preeminent contemporary sculptor British-born William Tucker, represented by a powerful charcoal drawing. [view artwork]

Local artists equally generous and outstanding included, Joel Grimaldi (New Hartford) and Patrick Woodruff (Rome). Among the featured Sculpture Space alums: Deborah Dohne (Syracuse), Jonathan Kirk (Utica), Brian McCutcheon (Indiana), Kathy Stecko (Brooklyn), Sculpture Space co-founder John von Bergen (Clinton), and Rosa Valado (New York).

New to the auction was the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition: silk scarves by artist Victoria Mele Zacek, complete with specially-designed sterling silver scarf pins designed by Tom Lennon of Goldmine Jewelers. A limited-ticket raffle, for a two-week stay in England awarded to the lucky winner with a cottage that sleeps 6 adults and is near Stonehenge. CHAIRity Co-founders Rosalind Diamond, Nancy Robinson and Linda Owens were the Honorary Co-chairs of the 20th Anniversary CHAIRity Honorary Committee, which recognized and celebrated past CHAIRity organizers and collectors. Sculpture Space also printed a special 20th Anniversary Souvenir Program for the event, which prominently featured the event’s sponsors, patrons and well-wishers.

Board members Frank Viola and Victoria Mele Zacek co-chaired the event, working with a dedicated committee.

The Board of Directors of Sculpture Space joins Sydney Waller, Executive Director, in thanking the many visionary, generous creative people who all contributed to the smashing success of the event.