By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Chairs almost too pretty to sit on, bowls that are works of art in themselves, and a fully decorated Christmas tree will be on the auction block at Brave Heart Volunteers’ fundraiser.
This year’s BHV Bowls & Chair-ity event is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
A ticket gets you dinner from a variety of gourmet soups from local kitchens, bread, a fancy dessert and entertainment by the Sitka Blues Band.
Another feature is the opportunity to buy one of the dozens of ceramic bowls local artists created and donated to Brave Heart as an extra. You can fill your new bowl with soup for your dinner, or just take it home.
And then there are the chairs – light furniture, mostly chairs, imaginatively decorated by local artisans for the ‘’chair-ity’’ auction. Silent bids are already being accepted on some items, which are on display around town. Rocking chairs, a child’s play table and chairs, a high chair and a ladderback chair are among pieces up for bids.
The auction will “go live” at the dinner, with Rob Woolsey as auctioneer. Among other items offered in the silent auction are 20 pieces donated by Island Artists Co-op, and other ceramic artists in town.
“We’re hoping people will get into the stores and start bidding,” said Michele Friedman, vice president of the BHV board.
Chairs up for auction are on display at, clockwise from top left, Goldsmith Gallery, Mountain Miss, Goldsmith Gallery, Russell’s, Robertson’s Art Gallery and Silver Basin. (Sentinel Photos by James Poulson)
Brave Heart Volunteers provides end of life, caregiving and respite services; coordinates support groups for those dealing with loss; and supplies educational materials on many issues relating to illness, grief and end of life.
“We’re providing an essential service to Sitkans who are facing isolation at the end of their life, and support to caregivers and people who are grieving,” said BHV Director Maury Hackett. “We also provide education on all sorts of topics from Alzheimer’s, to end of life process, caregiver support, self care for caregivers ....”
The organization also connects nonprofits with each other to provide additional services.
“Brave Heart is a critical spoke to the wheel of resources for people who want to stay home,” Hackett said.
A lifelong Sitkan, Hackett became familiar with the organization almost as soon as it started. A father figure in her life was one of the initial care receivers at BHV, and she saw the difference it made in his life.
“(Brave Heart) coordinated our community of people to ensure the quality of life this person was looking for, and it allowed him to stay home on the island longer than he would have otherwise,” Hackett said.
Hackett is in her second year with BHV, and during that time the number of volunteers has increased from 28 to 48.
“In the community we are widely known for supporting people at the end of life,” she said. “But for every hour of end of life care we supply 17 hours of volunteer visiting.”
Trained volunteers sign up to visit someone who’s isolated and might be living at home, in the Pioneers Home or Sitka Community Hospital long-term care unit.
“Because people are visiting people who are isolated, that role in somebody’s life, to have that social and emotional support and connection, gives people a reason to live,” Hackett said. “People as they get older are pushed into a corner. Volunteers are going out visiting in the home and integrating them into the community. It helps (build) that connection into the greater environment.”
Friedman and Hackett are looking forward to seeing all of the art chairs together on Dec. 6, along with the decorated tree from Michelle Putz.
Putz said this idea came from a fundraiser in Grangeville, Idaho, where she and her husband Perry Edwards lived for 10 years.
“People decorated trees for a hospital fundraiser and auctioned them off,” with each tree raising hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Putz said. “I suggested it for Brave Heart.”
Her Sitka by the Sea-themed tree will have some 60 handmade ornaments from ceramic, wood, glass and other decorations related to the sea. The full-size tree will be delivered to the home or office of the winner.
Putz is also a BHV volunteer, inspired by the time she spent with Perry’s mom who was diagnosed with late-stage cancer.
“We went and took care of her until she passed away,” Putz said. “It was such a powerful, wonderful and sad experience. I thought I would like to offer to assist others with that if there was a need or desire for end of life care. I’m glad to have Brave Heart to organize that and help the community.”
Kim Elliot is one of the chair artists, who created a chair in honor of her mother, Signe Wilson, who died about three years ago. The chair had been on Berry Island for as long as Elliot can remember.
“This is a tribute to mom,” she said. The chair was inspired by Wilson’s enthusiasm for collecting, living off the land and gathering, and using all parts of what was gathered. Elliot said she was also inspired by a story told to her by Herman Kitka Sr., who adopted Signe, and her children. into his clan.
The chair, on display at Goldsmith Gallery, was described by Elliot:
“The use of copper is a representation of the value of copper to the Lingit people. The tinnahs are a representation of wealth to the Lingit often given away at celebrations of life. One talisman is representative of Shee, the woman who was here caring for the land when the Tlingit people returned after the Ice Age. Shee was protective of her land and all the bounty it provided.”
Elliot added that, “This chair is a tribute to my mother, who was my personal Shee. The second talisman is my signature, it represents my heritage raised in a family of mixed culture. They are both black-infused resin originals with volcanic ash from Mt. Redoubt. This chair communicates the great respect I was taught to have for the land. We always thank Mother Nature for her gifts.”
Kailee Cunningham got the inspiration for her chair, which can be seen at Silver Basin, from a kayaking trip she led over the summer to St. Lazaria, Brent’s Beach and Fred’s Creek cabin.
“I love being outside as much as I possibly can,” she said.
The small rocking chair is covered with a chart of the Kruzof Island coastline, and includes a sketch. Cunningham enjoys turning the sketches she makes of the area’s cabins into stickers for friends. She also created four bowls for the event.
Other chairs include a children’s chair by Cara Murray, on show at Goldsmith Gallery; an “Odd Pair” chair and stool/table by Kristina Cranston and Tommy Joseph, displayed at Mountain Miss; a musical chair by Lois Verbaan, at Russell’s; and “Our Town” children’s table and chairs by DJ Robidou, at Robertson’s Art Gallery.
Tickets for Bowls and Chair-ity are $15, and $5 for children under 10. They are available at Old Harbor Books and the door.
