by Kyle Wells [email protected] Take a Seat, a Facebook photo project that documents a little red chair’s wanderings around Powell River and beyond, just turned a year old and is still inviting people to come enjoy the area.
Lilia Cardosa-Gould got the idea for the concept after taking a photo at a wedding of the bride in a chair. The image stuck with her and she came up with the idea to take the chair up Valentine Mountain and take photos of it on its own. That particular chair was rather large, however, so while sitting on it Cardosa-Gould came up with the idea to use the chair that would become Lil’ Red.
Cardosa-Gould spray-painted the chair red, which she purchased at a garage sale, and took the first photos of it in Townsite and Cranberry. She posted those photos to Facebook and then decided to take Lil’ Red all over the Powell River area. People began to informally call the chair Lil’ Red as the project grew and it began to take on a personality all its own.
The idea of calling the photo series Take A Seat came from a desire to present the photos as a welcoming invitation to come and enjoy Powell River.
“I decided, why don’t I promote Powell River by inviting the world to come and take a seat in Powell River,” said Cardosa-Gould. “It’s just a way to promote people, artists, places, events and it’s sort of taken off from there.”
Lil’ Red has attended Sea Fair, Blackberry Festival, Polar Bear Swim, Powell River Blues Festival, Sunshine Music Festival, Soap Box Derby and numerous other community events. Also a fan of the great outdoors, Lil’ Red has been photographed hiking through the back woods, kayaking on the ocean, hanging out on the beach and playing in the snow.
The chair has attracted some celebrity attention. Vinyl Café’s Stuart McLean sat in the chair on his visit to the area, as have bluesmen Matt Andersen and Wes Mackey. The chair has travelled as well, visiting Galiano Island, Victoria, Coombs and other places. Cardosa-Gould wanted to take Lil’ Red on her vacation to Mexico recently but Red couldn’t afford the extra plane fare so only a photo of the chair could make the trip.
“I really like the responses; I’ve had some great conversations with people because of it,” said Cardosa-Gould. “You know, it strikes up a conversation.”
A new chair, named Lil’ Wee Chair, was built for Cardosa-Gould to take on future trips. The chair is a miniature version of Lil’ Red that can be easily packed and taken anywhere.
A benefit to the project is that it gives Cardosa-Gould the opportunity to discover locations in the Powell River area previously unknown to her. Stillwater Bluffs has become a beloved area and she had never been there before taking Lil’ Red for a photo shoot. She also took the chair on a kayak trip to the Copeland Islands and said that in general the project has helped her realize just how vast the area is and how much there is to discover.
“It’s a piece of paradise, is what I’ve learned,” said Cardosa-Gould. “It’s a gorgeous place and it’s just hard not to share it with other people.”
Cardosa-Gould is considering developing a website for Lil’ Red and perhaps turning the photos into a coffee-table book.
