By Steve Steiner

Managing editor

ssteiner@elkintribune.com

In 20 years, the Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity has built 20 new homes, an average of one house per year. It wasn’t by design, said Claire Sellars, the executive director, but it has worked out that way. In a way, it is fitting, according to Sellars.

Regardless the number of dwellings, the fact the local Habitat for Humanity is marking its 20th year is a cause for celebration, said Sellars, and celebrate it certainly is, from 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday.

“This is a culminating event of our 20th year,” said Sellars. “We’re combining it with our volunteer appreciation event and a ‘birthday’ party.”

That “birthday party” is the “Art for Homes” silent auction. The key, Sellars added, is the art pieces. What a select number of people have done is take standard furniture pieces that were donated to Habitat and make those pieces into art sculptures of one sort or another.

One of the participants, is Erik Dahlager, who also took pictures of the art pieces for Habitat for Humanity (which can be viewed by going to: www.uyvhabitat.org and clicking onto Art Auction and Celebration in the home page text.). His is a piece that Sellars fondly calls “American Fanstand.

“I found a little square table, yarn, 45 rpm records and a fan,” said Dahlager. “I’m a big music fan, so it all made sense.”

Dahlager is an artistic photographer with Furches Gallery on West Main Street in downtown Elkin.

Another participant was the team of Sharon Whitman and Rosy Beverley, with the Yadkin Valley Craft Guild, also on West Main Street in downtown Elkin. they came up with a piece titled “Kaleidoscope.”

“Originally, I wanted to do this as a Guild project,” said Whitman.

However, a number of Guild members wanted to do their own individual pieces, so Whitman and Beverley collaborated.

“Rosy has done this work before,” said Whitman. “She does lovely, whimsical artwork.”

The two also worked on a small table. They used acrylic paints to paint squares and other shapes.

“We just grabbed a color. When it ‘felt good,’ we used it,” said Whitman.

She called Kaleidoscope a “stream of consciousness” project.

“We didn’t have a plan what the table should look like,” she said. “It just sort of unfolded as we were working, and then, suddenly, it was just done,”

Sellars said excitement is running high for Saturday’s event, which will also feature heavy hors d’ouevres and entertainment by Naomi’s Fancy, a band headed by Naomi Orr that will be playing Celtic music.

Want to attend?

The Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity store is located at 102 E. Market St. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance and can also be purchased Saturday at the door. The event runs 6 - 8 p.m. Call 526-2277, or visit: www.uyvhabitat.org. Its email address is:

habitat@UYVhabitat.org.