Printer Friendly Version - Even Sticks Have History in Chester

This is artist Bill Vollers’ entry for the Chester Historical Society’s Creative Challenge Fundraiser. A reception will be held on Saturday, April 9, at the Meeting House, where all of the stick entries will be displayed. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on these unique pieces of art through a silent auction. Photo courtesy of Bill Vollers

Even tiny sticks can tell a story. The Chester Historical Society uncovered box loads of two-inch, carved orange wood manicure sticks nested in a barn at the Bishop and Watrous Novelty Works. The wood for these sticks was sent from Florida to Maine, turned into dowels, and then sent to Chester to be cut to different lengths and hand finished with slants or points.

Now, inspired by that history, area artists, sculptors, photographers, and other creative folks have put together unique pieces of art made from the sticks, to be displayed at the annual Creative Challenge art reception hosted each year by the Chester Historical Society.

So far 37 participants have signed on to create a piece of art with these tiny sticks, which have become the inspiration for this year’s sixth annual Creative Challenge and fundraiser for the Chester Historical Society.

For $30 (which includes two tickets to the reception), participants can purchase a bag of sticks and make some art.

The finished pieces of stick art—jewelry, sculptures, photographs, etc.—will be exhibited and sold by silent auction at the Historical Society’s Reception on Saturday, April 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Chester Meeting House, at 4 Liberty Street.

“It is always fun to see what people come up with and create,” said artist and Historical Society member Sosse Baker. “I think this is a great way to raise money for the museum that the Historical Society has worked so hard to get here in Chester.”

In the past, there have been challenges based on hooks from the Brooks Factory, knitting gauges from the C.J. Bates Factory, and even rusted pieces of metalwork unearthed from the yard of one of Chester’s earliest houses.

Baker, who takes on the challenge each year, explained that last year’s hook challenge contest had 50 participants. The society hopes to have that many, if not more this year.

“For this challenge…I guess the word ‘opportunity’ comes to mind,” said Chester Historical Society President Skip Hubbard. “Opportunity for those with a creative bent to stretch their imagination using an artifact from the past; opportunity for event attendees to have a one-off piece of historical art for their home or office; opportunity to support the many educational programs and events offered by the Chester Historical Society and its Museum at the Mill.”

“I get a little nervous each year that the pieces are not coming in, but then they do, sometimes only a day or two before the reception, but they get, here,” said Baker.

The reception will feature hearty hors d’oeuvres and desserts from Chester kitchens, served with wine and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tickets, $30, can be purchased at Chester Gallery and Lark or by calling Baker at 860-526-9822.

All the proceeds will go to benefit the preservation and showcasing of Chester history through the Chester Historical Society and the Chester Museum at The Mill.

“There is always something that comes up that we need funds for, so this fundraiser is a great way to support art, get involved, have fun, and support the Chester Historical Society,” said Baker.

For more information, visit www.chester historicalsociety.org or Facebook.com/chesterct historicalsociety.