Come to the Table, an event to benefit the Springs Food Pantry, took place on Friday, June 24 from 4 to 6 pm at Hampton Racquet in East Hampton. For sale were 16 beautifully finished side tables hand-painted by artist Karen Simon. The idea to build tables to be auctioned off to raise funds for the food pantry seemed like a natural – the pantry’s mission is to provide food for the tables of residents in need.
The table designs are witty and beautifully executed; each table is finished with five coats of polyurethane. Two chairs were sold in a live auction, two tables were raffled off (raffle tickets were $25) and the rest were sold individually in a silent auction. Each table had a name based on the image painted on it. There were Multiplication Tables, Night Tables, a Blackjack Table, Tide Table, Periodic Table, Breakfast Table, Turntable, Picnic Table, Backgammon Table, and more.
Ms. Simon began creating the tables in January, using side tables based on the Alvar Aalto design, which are both sturdy and attractive. “The tables were a labor of love,” she said. An artist who also has a graphic design firm. Ms. Simon spends time in her studio, building furniture and making art. When asked how she got into furniture, she explains “I’ve always made things.” She studied art and made art for years, then, she says “12 years ago I took an intensive furniture course at the Penland School in North Carolina,” and she was hooked. She’s built much of the furniture in her home including a dining room table and a sideboard. In creating the tables for Come to the Table, she put her skills to use for the community she loves.
After the event, Karen reported that the evening “went really well – everything sold. It was a whirlwind!” And the Springs community came together to support the important work of their food pantry for the local residents who rely on its success.
