On the Bench

Photography by Mike Nakamura

I Forgot by L. Kelly Lyles

Forty-three benches have been handcrafted of yellow cedar and iron by Rainchild Metal Works on Camano Island. There are both longer benches (five feet) and shorter benches (three feet). They are very nice benches, without a doubt, long and short. Their primary distinguishing feature, however, is that each one has been used as an unconventional canvas by a Northwest artist. Twenty-seven artists in all participated in this project, called Sitting Pretty, under the auspices of the Act One Guild for Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE). The decoration, loosely themed to the performing arts, makes the benches something more to look at — and sit upon — than before. The benches, you might say, have become art. Accordingly, they will be on view at Bellevue Arts Museum (September 16 – 28, 2008) and then sold at a PACE fundraising auction at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on November 1, 2008.

Four Seasons by Fred Lisaius

The Night Muse by Dianna Shyne

Swirl Bench by Steve Jensen

Jester Reclining by Ken Torres

Autumn by Carol Skvorak

Spring Spin by Inna Peck

Willow Pattern Bench by Petronella Fursman

Grebe Bench by Laura Corsiglia

Tuscan Reds by Theresa Goesling

Lucky Bench by Rebecca DeVere

Sound Waves by Patti Bowman