The Natchez Downtown Development Association is veering down an avenue of creativity to provide a unique opportunity for Natchez and the surrounding areas in time for Christmas shopping and sprucing up one’s house for the holidays.

This announcement is the official kick-off of this venture. We will be collecting chairs either totally wood or with a minimum amount of upholstery that will be individually painted by artists in whatever designs they choose, whether traditional, contemporary, abstract or whatever strikes their fancy at the time.

During the fall, these chairs will be unveiled and offered for sale. We will have the initial unveiling in stores throughout the downtown area; then, the chairs will be moved to ArtsNatchez for the official unveiling and display. Net proceeds from each sale will be divided between the artist and NDDA.

This is open to everyone; we hope local artists, business owners and anyone interested in expressing their creativity will participate.

If you have a chair you no longer want and would like to donate, please let us know. Your donation will be tax deductible. The chair does not have to be in perfect condition; it can require minimum repair.

Also, if you have other furniture you would like to donate, please let us know; for, we have a spring event in mind for pieces other than chairs.

NDDA will be most appreciative for both individual participation and furniture donations. We think this will be a fun way to raise money and decorate homes.

Please contact me at murrayy@bellsouth.net or 601-238-8325 to donate a chair, become a participating artist, or for additional information.

We will keep you informed about the progress of this project. Our goal is 100 chairs.

Yvonne Murray is a Natchez Downtown Development Association board member.