Online Auction of Wash. Sq. Park's Lampshades and Chess Pieces Ends April 30th

Last chance to bid on the lampshades and chess pieces of Wash. Sq. Park; online auction celebrates culture, youth and seniors in our greenwich village community.

New York, N.Y., (PRWEB) April 29, 2006 -- Almost one year ago, Washington Square Park underwent a major facelift in the form of lampshades. Out of nowhere, gorgeous lampshades suddenly blossomed and a once rather plain Washington Square Park immediately transformed into a magical and mystical metropolitan of whimsical and romantic lighting and chess pieces. This beloved Well-Lit Chess Pieces art project, unfortunately, has come to an end.

Marjorie Kouns, artist and producer of the Well-Lit Chess Pieces display, invited people to make Washington Square Park their outdoor living room. The display takes the form of a lampshade and is designed to allow people to sit and read under it. In the springtime especially, they add a homey feel to the park and can even be seen as tulips that suddenly bloomed and made the park even more charming for its residents. None of the residents wanted to see the lampshades nor chess game pieces go away and thus the project was triple extended from its original end date in September 2005 to April 2006. Due to park renovations however, the lampshades come this week. Kouns decided to let this art project be in the hands of the people and put them up in an online auction at http://www.benefitevents.com .

But there are only 2 days left in this auction. The auction officially closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 30

Kouns teamed up with BenefitEvents.com and its President Jim Wintner to create this auction event to celebrate a nearly year long run of the exhibit fiscally sponsored by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council with thanks to City of New York Parks and Recreation Department's Temporary Public Outdoor Art Program as well as Abet Laminati www.abetlaminati.com. In keeping with the tradition of building and celebrating community, partial proceeds also benefit The Caring Community, LREI Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School, City Parks Foundation, and Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.

Prospective buyers can still bid at bidding terminals found at:

The Caring Community, 20 Washington Square North (M-F, 9am-5pm), which has a yellow lampshade in front of the building and computer terminals inside the building. You can also bid for the lampshades right from the comfort of your own home, making sure you keep the lights on in your home as well! Simply go online at www.benefitevents.com, anytime before 10 p.m. on April 30, 2006.

For press questions or queries, please contact Nishi Kothari at (832) 492-5080

For more information, please contact Marjorie Kouns at (212) 254-1776 or visit us online at www.marjoriekouns.com

###