CHAIRity Event to Raise Funds for Domestic Violence Victims

Victims of domestic violence will receive counseling and client services from the proceeds raised at the ninth annual CHAIRity event, “Sit a Moment, Stop the Violence,” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Phoenix Art Museum, Central Avenue and McDowell Road.

Eleven chairs, designed by Arizona State University Department of Interior Design students, will be on display and sold through an auction at the event. The scholarship-winning chair, “Bus Stop,” inspired by Barbara Kruger, a graphic designer who layers photographs with pithy text such as “I shop, therefore I am,” will be sold at the live auction. Two other chairs, “Embrace,” inspired by Christianna Hunnicutt, a sculptor, and “Pick up the Pieces,” inspired by Eva Zeisel, an 101-year-old industrial designer, also will be sold at the live auction.

The 31 students, who will present their finished chairs, designed and built them in teams of two or three students in five weeks. The students were challenged to raise the funds to cover the cost of the chair building materials. Each chair reflects the style of a particular artist and makes a statement about domestic violence and the role the city of Phoenix Family Advocacy Center plays in supporting domestic violence victims.

The students were influenced by designers, architects, artists and poets, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nendo, Bernard Tschumi, Luis Salazar and others. Miniature chairs that replicate the larger chairs created by the students will be sold at the silent auction.

The chairs will be on display at the Phoenix City Hall atrium, 200 W. Washington St., during business hours through Nov. 19.  Proceeds from the chair sales and the dinner will benefit the Phoenix Family Advocacy Center that provides comprehensive services to domestic violence and sexual abuse victims and their families in a safe and supportive environment.

The event presenting sponsor is Arizona Federal Credit Union; presenting media sponsor is Phoenix Woman magazine; premier sponsors are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Target Commercial Interiors. Event sponsors include the city of Phoenix Aviation Department, Fifer Design Studio and HDR.  Tickets are $125 per person and various levels of corporate sponsorship are available.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 602-534-3072 or visit www.chairity.info. For information about the Family Advocacy Center, visit phoenix.gov/fac.

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