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	Chess set number 11, which is known interchangeably as the "Illustrated set," or the "Bio-diversity set," was installed in July of 2000 at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. The garden’s administration requested that the set be based on six endangered wildflowers from North Carolina. These six designs are illustrated in each piece by local illustrator and new Chessworks resident, Stacye Leanza. This board was created from slate imported from Virginia, and sandstone from Tennesee. Photograph by John Rosenthal.
	White rook and white bishop. Photograph by Lynn Ruck.
	Black rook and white queen. Photograph by Lynn Ruck.
	Chess set number 10 was designed by Lyle Estill, and fabricated by Chessworks resident Heather Mehling. This is the "travel set," which Estill totes around to local festivals and events. For a look at some of the venues where Estill will be showing, check out the "Bio" page on this site. The board is constructed of eight interlocking plywood panels and was designed and built by local artist, Jim Nitsch. Shown here is Estill’s youngest child, Arlo.
	The "Fearrington set" was delivered in March of 2000. Estill was particularly pleased with this project since it was his first installation in his own Chatham County, NC. Estill received the help of Heather Mehling, a metalsmith who took up residency in Moncure and joined the Moncure Chessworks. Heather did much of the assembly for the Fearrington set along with another new Chessworks resident, Janice Rieves.
	In December of 1998, Estill was commisioned by the Museum of Life and Science to create his sixth set, in which the pieces were to resemble insects. Using stainless steel scrap, predominately discarded soda canisters and ball joints, Estill fashioned the "Bug" set, Funding for the project came from a number of local businesses and supporters of The Moncure Chessworks. The board is in place at the museum, in between the Caterpillar Cafe and the Magic Wings Butterfly House, and the pieces were delivered in July of 1999. In August, Microsoft chose the set as the winner of it's "Best Chess Set" competition as part of their Kasparov Against the World contest on the MSN Gaming Zone.
	Ultimately the Museum deemed that the pieces were top heavy, and unsuitable for its audience. Chessworks, warrants its work, and remanufactured the set for free, replacing soda canisters with pool lights to change the center of gravity and eliminate all "tipsyness." For more information on the Museum of Life and Science, click here.
	Estill was commissioned by the American Visionary Art Museum to create a set for their 1999 exhibition, We Are Not Alone. The set, comprised predominately of stainless steel underwater pool lights, consisted of Angels Vs. Aliens which was the idea of exhibits director Mark Ward. Angels Vs. Aliens was the seventh full size chess set created by Estill at the Moncure Chessworks. Estill noted that he believes he is the first Canadian included in the museum's permanent collection, and after returning from the show remarked, "I think I was the only guy there who has not previously been kidnapped by aliens."
	This was Estill's first stainless steel set, photographed here by designer James Morgan in Lenoir, NC. Shown here is Estill's oldest child, Jessalyn who is twelve at the time of this picture. One side is shiny like silverware, the other has been darkened by heating each piece to 1000 degrees-the teperature at which stainless discolors. A pre-cursor to the current travel set, this board is comprised of vinyl tile on plywood. This set received an honorable Mention at the 13th annual Sculpture Celebration in Lenoir, NC. This set has since been acquired by Angel's Nest Farm in Oxford, NC.
	Set number four won The People's Choice award at the 1998 Sculpture in the Garden show in Southern Pines, NC. It is fashioned from manganese stone hammers atop cast iron scrap. Photographs by Mike Roig.
	Estill’s third set, the Kaitlin set, was installed at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. Pictured here is his second child, Kaitlin, at 6 years old. Made of cast iron and carbon steel (with mechanical fits between the two) this set has been hot dipped galvanized for forty-year rust protection. This set is currently in use at Estill's farm in Moncure and is for sale.
	This is Estill’s second set, made of cast iron he collected from the scrap yard. Pictured here is his third child, Zafer, at 18 months. The board is made of 18” paving stones. This set was sold to Reba’s and Rose’s, a garden art dealer in Hillsboro, North Carolina. For pricing information, contact Laura at 919-664--2677. Photo by John Rosenthal.
	Miniature Set. Estill sold this set to a private collector in Chapel Hill. The board is comprised of 4" paving stones and the pieces have been hot dipped galvanized.
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