Bevy of Birdhouses flock to Wesley Kimler's Studio

Julie Dickinson, Friends of Pritzker President and artist Wesley Kimler discuss auction plans in his studio.

A bevy of birdhousses flock to Wesley Kimler's Studio as a result of artists, architects, businesses, teachers and families putting creative thoughts and efforts toward creations to be auctioned at the Second Annual Birdhouse Auction presented by the Friends of Pritzker School on Sat., May 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Kimler's Studio at 2046 West Carroll .  Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door which includes appetizers and an open bar.

"Mod Flight" by Maria Ponce assisted by Trey Berre is of stained pine and stainless steel and for indoors.

A variety of materials were used to produce this year's 70 unique birdhouses which are intended to be decorative or usable for indoors or out. Focused on the first goal of a small band of parents who began Friends of Pritzker School to improve the Kindergarten and Preschool playground, enthusiasts of the birdhouse project are delighted to know that their efforts can give back to the community. As described by Birdhouse Chair Heather Strong, former full time architect now mom who wants her children to be able to go to Pritzker, "This project is about tying the school to the arts; tying the school to the community; and hopefully tying the community to the arts."

Anne Benjamin is the creator of "Gnome Sweet Gnome" is for outdoors and is of cedar and walnut.

Friends of Pritzker School is working toward a $40,000 fund-raising goal to renovate the preschool and kindergarten playground. Currently, it is an empty, fenced-in area with a buckling hard surface. The vision is to turn it into an outdoor arts, exploration and imagination space with a stage for impromptu playground performances, Plexiglas easels for painting, a sandbox for digging and exploring, and creative equipment for imaginative play.

Linda Somers and family's Plexiglass house is for indoor use

Pritzker School, originally Wicker Park School, is a Chicago Public School with several programs. It is a neighborhood school that incorporates technology and fine arts.

Made of recycled wood with copper fittings Lynne Warren's "Birdhouse Poem," is a cleanable outdoor creation.

The Schmidt-LeMoine Family created this colorful indoor birdhouse from wood and game pieces.