Lisle brings back benches to auction
Whether you're a sports fan, a gardener or simply a lover of all things novel, the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce has a place for you to sit.
Namely, one of the more than 30 colorfully decorated wooden benches that will be auctioned during Depot Days at 3 p.m. Saturday at The Museums of Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle.
The live auction raises money for 20 charities that are members of the Lisle chamber. The eye-catching seats have been on display in downtown Lisle since Memorial Day weekend and now it's time for them to find new homes.
"They're all beautiful," said Christine Kaufman, chairman of the Benches of Lisle II project. "I'm very pleased with them. I think we have a nice variety of themes this year."
Kaufman herself painted the "Reserved for Bears Fans" bench that could be found on Main Street.
Two other sports-themed benches -- one decorated for the Cubs and one for the White Sox -- were stolen in August from in front of Gallery Trio on Maple Avenue.
Chamber President Tom Althoff said the artist hopes to replace one of them in time for the auction. In any case, 34 or 35 benches will be up for bid.
Althoff's own favorite is "Big Cheese: The Mean Green Sitting Machine," a tribute to the Green Bay Packers football team painted by Ray Graham Association clients Angelo Reese and Joann Johnson.
Althoff, a Wisconsin native, sponsored the bench, which made headlines in the Green Bay newspaper's online edition.
"Somebody from Green Bay Press-Gazette contacted me about that bench," Althoff said.
But if sports isn't your favorite pastime, there are plenty of other benches from which to choose. Many have garden themes.
Professional artist Deidre Hart modified her bench, "Daisies Don't Tell," to turn the arm rests into giant pedals. Hart's work also can be seen on the mural downtown at Lisle's French Market.
Three benches done by an art class at Lisle High School include "A Night on the Town" with a view of the Chicago skyline.
Fans of the late abstract expressionist artist Jackson Pollock will want to check out Zaki Knapen's "Jackson Pollock Sat Here," complete with a can of paint, paint brush and cigarette butts.
The Benches of Lisle II echoes the highly successful Benches of Lisle project of two years ago. The chamber auctioned the benches with an Adirondack flair to raise roughly $11,000 for charity in 2005, and hopes to bring in a similar amount this year.
Individual benches go for amounts ranging from $100 to more than $1,000, Althoff said.
Winning bidders get a list of the charities and choose where they want their money to go to or, if they have no preference, the money is split among all the charities.
If you go
What:Benches of Lisle II charity auction
When:3 p.m. Saturday
Where:The Museums of Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle
Info:(630) 964-0052