April 2008
Guild Unveils Fundraising Project for Candlelight Dinner
(Left to right) Janis Wold, Christy Rainchild, and Karen Dunn
The Act One Guild has revealed the theme of its 2008 Candlelight Dinner & Bench Auction which will be Sitting Pretty For PACE. The theme refers to what is sure to be a sell-out event where 45 one-of-a-kind, artist-designed Benches will be sold through a live and silent auction to benefit PACE. The Bench, designed by Rainchild Metal Works, was unveiled at the "Bare Bench Bash" last month at the Mercer Island home of David and April Humphrey. Artists and Guild members gathered to view the Bench design and launch the project, which will include 30 large and 15 small Benches, each to be hand-painted by select Northwest artists.
The idea for the Sitting Pretty For PACE project was inspired by the highly successful Autumn Candlelight Dinner & Bucks For PACE Auction in 2006, which raised nearly $600,000. "Bucks For PACE was extremely successful in raising funds for PACE as well as drawing attention to the future performing arts center," says Suzanne Hutchinson, PACE's Director of Guilds. "It was an exciting project for the artists, the Guild, the community, and for PACE. We believe the Benches offer the artists a perfect palette for their art and will result in masterpieces unlike anything we have seen before."
According to Act One Guild President Nancy Walker, the artists' designs were selected by the Guild following an extensive review of nearly 100 submissions. "We are delighted that several of the artists are the same artists who painted some of the Bucks," says Walker. "They did such a wonderful job on the Bucks and we are even more excited by their new Bench designs. We are certain they will be equally successful."
The Benches will be sold at the 2008 Candlelight Dinner & Bench Auction on November 1, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.