The Chair Project auction raises funds, awareness for Sanctuary Inc.

The Hopkinsville Brewing Company was crowded with a bunch of folks and a bunch of chairs on Friday for the Chair Project’s second annual auction supporting Sanctuary, Inc.

The Chair Project was launched in 2025 as a collaboration between local artist Julie-Anna Carlisle and Sanctuary to help raise funds to support the nonprofit’s work. Sanctuary is a Christian County-based nonprofit that provides support and resources to empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across the Pennyrile Region.

The brewing company was filled with 35 chairs, that were either refurbished or built from scratch. Sanctuary Executive Director Heather Lancaster says all the proceeds from the auction support the nonprofit and allows them to raise funds for projects that might not be covered by state or federal grants.

Lancaster says no two chairs are alike, and each has its own story. Along with engaging with local creators and supporting the nonprofit, Lancaster says the auction brought community members together to learn more about Sanctuary’s mission.

Hopkinsville resident Thea Russell designed a chair at the auction titled “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” Russell painted the chair, and the backrest includes a stairway surrounded by flowers and rolling green hills. The stairway vanishes into the horizon, and the sky is filled with a warm sunset.

Russell says her Bahamian roots inspired her chair. As she was painting the chair, Russell says she thought that where a person is born should not impact their ability to thrive.

Along with the auction, awards were given out for the top three chairs. Eric Morris was one of the auction judges and says all the chairs were incredible, with a wide variety of themes and many of them tied into Sanctuary’s mission.

Best in Show went to Lynn Pesoat for her chair, “Sanctuary of Mom,” a wooden rocking chair with a painting of a mother holding a baby as if she were sitting in the chair. Amanda Buzzard was the first runner-up for her chair, “Life Will Out,” and Tracey Groves received an honorable mention for her chair “Extra Extra.”

More information about Sanctuary is available at thesanctuaryinc.com.