Chairful Where You Sit, a one-day outdoor art installation and fundraiser for the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture, traditionally coincides with Porchfest and takes place in a festive gathering at historic Uncle Sam Plaza, in the heart of the Arlington Center Cultural District. An auction of artistically transformed chairs and other small furniture items rescued from basements and curbs has supported public art in in Arlington since 2012, and saved over 400 chairs from landfill.

The auction's successful jump online in 2020 due to Covid-19 led to wider access and participation, and 2021's auction has been re-envisioned as a hybrid event, with a wider range of New England artists than ever!

Auction bidding will be conducted online starting with an art-rich, in-person event on the grounds of the Jason Russell House, 7 Jason Street near Arlington Center. Free live music, a chance to vote for your favorite chair, and more will be on offer to the public that afternoon.

Bidding will remain open through Sept. 5 at 9PM.

Want to buy furniture art and support the kind of community-based work recently touted by MassCreative as “The kind of engagement [that] motivates us to promote the importance of the arts & culture in connecting communities and creating joy through public art for all”?

Dozens of regional artists from Connecticut to Maine have contributed marvelously upcycled and decorated works to the auction. Be sure to preview them and bid on your favorites between August 21-September 5 at BiddingOwl.com/ArtsArlington!