Ten students from the IB art class at Bermuda High School (Nicole Bothelo, Tseda Adams, Carol Wilson, Riley Mello, Mackenzie Hames, Caitlyn Mello, Charda Simmons, Shelby Rodrigues, Alyssa Jones and Madison O'Beirne) decided to work as a team to complete two Adirondack chairs for the Masterworks Foundation' CHAIRity Auction taking place on Friday, November 14.

All of the young women are in their first year of the IB programme provided at BHS. In order to complete and receive an IB diploma, students are required to complete 150 CAS (Creative, Action and Service) hours by the end of the two-year course. By the end of June 2009 they are required to have a total of at least 96 CAS hours. CAS involves students dedicating their time towards an activity that includes creativity, action or service.

The students commenced work on the chairs at the beginning of October 2008. They initially travelled to the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art on Thursday afternoons after school and worked under the guidance of Masterworks' Education Officer, Carrie Zenti. On the first day, the students looked at the structure of the chair and noticed that it was not a chair that you can just throw paint onto and call it a day. They realized that it would take them some time. Adirondack chairs are made of eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. They are preferably used in outdoor settings. When the students discovered that they are usually used in outdoor settings, they knew that they could design it by blending their different artistic personalities together. Since they all have a passion for bright colors, they envisioned that their chairs would be colorful.

After weeks of colorful design and fun, the chairs came out better than the students thought they would.

"It's harder than you think to work in a large group full of different opinions," said Nicole Bothelo, "but after we got over the disagreements, we were a pretty good group."

Throughout the experience, the students learned more about each other and became closer and gelled as a team.

"I think the hardest part was trying to create a design because everybody had a good idea. We just did not know how to put them together," noted Tseda Adams.

Alyssa Jones added, "I learned that sometimes it can get difficult, but with time, effort and the love of art anything can be achieved."

The young women's chairs, along with other chairs designed by many artists, can be viewed today from 10am to 4pm at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art. Tomorrow the CHAIRity Auction Fundraiser will take place in celebration of the 60th birthday of Masterworks' Principle Patron, His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

The toast and preview will take place between 5pm and 6pm, and the auction of the chairs by various artists will begin at 6:30pm. All are invited; we hope to see you there!