Waterbox gives Utah arts a lift – The Joy Trip Project

Waterbox gives Utah arts a lift – The Joy Trip Project

Despite the holiday rush a Park City company put in a little creative effort to raise support for the arts in Utah. Waterbox, makers of personal stainless steel water bottles, made a custom contribution to the “Chairity Lift” project to benefit the Kimball Art Center. In a fashion as unique as the products they design the folks at Waterbox decorated a decommissioned ski chairlift along with 40 other artists to boost both the Center and a charity of their choice.
“Our creative director is a huge avian enthusiast,” said Waterbox founder Canice Harte, “So the charity she chose is a bird refuge out in the Bay Area.”

Called the Eyrie Perch the Waterbox chairlift, designed by Anjel Van Slyke, is crafted to resemble a giant seat for a bird. Above a polished wooden crossbar, suspended from the top of chairlift are hundreds of colorful hand-folded origami cranes seeming to take flight. With an initial asking price of $4,500 for bid on eBay 25 percent of the proceeds are destined for donation to the Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue in San Jose, California. The Eyrie Perch along with many other pieces sponsored by corporations and individual artists will be available for purchase in a live auction at the Canyons Resort on December 17th.

“It’s a really cool event and we’re just psyched to be a part of it,” said Harte. “We were invited as a local business and compared to some of the other artists ours is pretty simple. But we’re happy to have this as our community project.”

Waterbox typically gets involved in art related programs. In addition to designing products that incorporate the original work of graphic designers, the Park City company also supports community initiatives for children. By providing blank water bottles to the Salt Lake Art Center Youth Program, Waterbox hopes to encourage kids to ply their own talents to the creation of reusable drinking vessels while learning the importance of clean safe water.