The AIRdirondack Art project

There’s a new chair in town

it’s called the Airdirondack, a play on Airdrie and Adirondack, and to explain it simply, the Airdirondack is what cows were to Calgary.

“Remember the cow promotion? Artists created amazing works of art using cow statues as their muse. Well, we had the idea that Airdrie needed its own fun identity project that gave us both a heightened awareness for the creative talent in the area and a tourism effort to draw visitors to town and give them a reason to explore,” says Sherry ShawFroggatt, owner of Frog Media Inc. (which publishes airdrielife).

So Shaw-Froggatt and Veronica Funk, one of Airdrie’s most prolific painters, decided the time had come to ‘chair’ the project.

“Veronica and I started this conversation about a year ago about getting things happening for the creative community,” ShawFroggatt says, “and instead of asking for help or handouts, come up with our own action plan and be a starting point for an organization that will plan for a future centre for the arts in Airdrie. This is our first step.”

In explaining her reason for stepping up the challenge, Funk pointed to the fact that Airdrie has been very busy growing, while at the same time being transient. “People in the community want to settle in, make this a home, and that means a well-rounded society – a community filled with opportunity including arts and culture,” the artist says. “Speaking to newer families, I have learned that they’ve missed a community gathering place for their children, for those in our community who don’t necessarily have an affinity for sports – a place where they can nourish their souls through the visual and performing arts.

“These chairs are symbolic of a place to be still, of settling in and growing roots,” she adds.

The symbolism of the chairs is no accident. Shaw-Froggatt admits to searching for an icon that she could tie into as a major sponsor and promote airdrielife. “I produce a magazine. Magazines are engaging and meant to be enjoyed at your leisure and an Adirondack chair was a perfect promotional tool,” she says, “but this has gone way beyond what I imagined or dreamed. I am pleased to give the chair concept to the public now to promote the creative community.”

Funk and Shaw-Froggatt met with City of Airdrie representatives to present their idea, but in a most unusual manner – they already had sponsors lined up and committed and initial funding secured. City community services liaison Michael McAllister was impressed.

“What impressed me most when I first heard about the AIRdirondack project was the amount of vision and drive the organizers were willing to bring to the table,” McAllister says. “Oftentimes we will have community groups who have ideas, but the followup and the time and energy that go into making com- munity projects to happen can sometimes be daunting. This group, however, came to us with a well-thought-out action plan in addition to the many partners they were bringing to the table to make their project not just a dream, but a reality.”

Shaw-Froggatt, who has years of experience in promotions and sponsorship fundraising, knew the key to get the project off and running was the right partners, and McAllister agrees.

“Right from the beginning the group has made that critical link between business and the arts community, which has helped them continually gain momentum since their inception,” he says. “Oftentimes arts can be an economic engine and this project is certainly no exception. The interest and support from the business community has been outstanding.”

One of the businesses approached by the Airdirondack team was Ravenswood developer Qualico, as it seemed like a natural fit, ShawFroggatt says. “They are creating an inviting community and Adirondacks are such inviting chairs,” she says. The response was great and Qualico was enthusiastic, having already come up with more great ideas to add in 2011.

“It’s an absolutely fabulous project that has huge potential to grow and we are delighted to be in at the grassroots level,” says Lori Masse, Qualico marketing manager.

Mike Fulton, at Airdrie’s Home Hardware, also got the concept immediately and generously donated all 12 chairs and the paints for the artists to work with.

The artists are a good cross-section of the visual arts talent in the community, says Funk, noting that all of the artists, including herself, have donated their time to create the chairs, which will be auctioned off in the fall. The artists who have been selected to take part in addition to Funk are Cheryl Bakke Martin, Brenda Campbell, Glen Collin, Maureen Demanuele, Susan Harris, Lori Presiloski, Rhea Warholik, Joelle and Carol White, Michelle Wiebe and Jane Romanishko.

Eleven of the chairs will be unveiled June 12 at the Empty Bowls Festival in Nose Creek Park. The 12th chair will be primed and ready for the community to paint. “We will have all the paint and brushes and we want everyone to step up and add a brush stroke, a design, even their signature, to make this a community arts chair,” Shaw-Froggatt says.

After the festival, the chairs will be on public display at 12 locations around the city, including City Hall, Genesis Place, Fulton’s Home Hardware, Airdrie Co-op, Airdrie Public Library, both TD Canada Trust locations and all four Ravenswood show homes. The works of art will then be auctioned off Oct. 14 to raise funds to develop future space for the arts community.

“The AIRdrondack Art Project is bringing people from all walks of Airdrie’s community to the table,” McAllister says, “and in a very short time has become a catalyst for those interested in making Airdrie a creative place to live, work and play.” life