The first-ever Corridor Art Trail is now open with 21 artistic Adirondack chairs on display throughout the counties of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet. The project, organized by the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation in a partnership with ArtsLIVE, will showcase local artists' abilities through Sept. 28.

"This is a great way to showcase and promote our region to residents and visitors," Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation President Kathy Evert said.

Adirondack chairs were chosen as the first artistic canvass for the project, which is hoped to become annual or bi-annual.

"The art trail is the outcome of seeking a new way of breaking through the clutter when promoting this area," Evert said. "We wanted a project and an icon that would connect the four counties and leave a lasting impression about the Corridor region."

The Trail began with 21 blank cedar Adirondack chairs made locally at The Woodworkers Shop in Estherville. These chairs were distributed in March to 21 area artists who were given complete control over manipulation of the chairs. The result is 21 works of art.

"From what I've seen so far, this will be very fun and exciting for the region," Evert said. "Many of us have seen or read about these kinds of art tours in major cities and other larger communities. This is the first one we've found other than the Lake Placid, N.Y. area that has actually developed an art trail through multiple communities."

The 21 chairs will be placed at host locations throughout the four counties and available for public view. It is the Corridor's hope that residents and visitors alike will take a tour on the Corridor Art Trail to see all 21 chairs. At the end of the summer, on Sept. 28, the chairs will be auctioned to the public during Artoberfest, an ArtsLIVE event, held at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Five of the chairs will be auctioned live and 16 will be silent auctioned through both online bidding and silent bidding during Artoberfest.

A map brochure of the Corridor Art Trail can be picked up in May at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation office at 1900 N. Grand Ave. in Spencer, or at Iowa welcome centers and many other locations throughout Northwest Iowa.

"We're printing 15,000 copies of the map brochure and will have the information on our website." Evert said. "Help spread the word and mark your calendar for Artoberfest on Sept. 28."

Artists involved in the project are: Sue Biederman, Everly; Danielle Clouse, Ruthven; Tony Curiel, Spencer; Cyndee Dather, Okoboji; Dennis Dykema, Spirit Lake; Chad Elliott, Spencer; Linda Fries, Peterson; Shelagh Gamble, Okoboji; Anita Gilbert and Anthony Vodraska, Spencer; Hank Hall, Spirit Lake; Micah Hammac, Spencer; Kim Jessen, Spencer; Holly Kellogg, Spencer; Levi Lillie and Gina Bailey, Spencer; Barb McGee, Peterson; Mary Mello, Spencer; Perry Polson, Spencer; Lissa Potter, Okoboji; Deidre Rosenboom, Arnolds Park; Jim Schooley, Spencer; Marti Zinn, Spencer.

A big thank you to the sponsors of this first Art Trail: Albert City Lions Club, Albert City Chamber of Commerce, Avera Holy Family Health, Bank Midwest, Bank Plus, Cadre Telemarketing, City of Albert City, Clay County Regional Events Center, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Community Bank & Insurance, Commstock, Richard & Becki Drahota, Farmers Trust and Savings Bank, Frederick's Market, Linda Fries, Home State Bank, Huberg Trucking, Iowa Area Development Group, The Java Joint Espresso Bar, Liberty Bank, Little Swan Lake Winery, McGee Gallery and Framing, Northwest Bank, Okoboji Trading Company, Royal Lions Club, Royal Telephone, RR Donnelley, Shaky Tree Coffee, Storm Lake Area Development Corporation, Toft Electric and Treebed Design.