BenchMarks grace Auburn

Published 1:02 pm Thursday, July 30, 2015

For the Reporter

Be on the lookout this summer for a great place to sit.

BenchMarks, Auburn’s newest community art program, sought community groups to paint, carve and otherwise artistically alter plain wooden benches into works of sit-able art.

The benches, built by the Green River College Carpentry Division, can be found throughout Auburn – in parks, along sidewalks and in neighborhoods where people gather. A number of community groups stepped forward to take on the challenge of modifying a bench and the results are diverse, interesting and fun.

Two local high school art clubs – Auburn Riverside and Auburn Mountainview – took on the challenge as did the after-school youth program of the Muckleshoot Tribe.

Service clubs, including the Kiwanis (morning and noon), the Lions and community organizations, including the Green River College Interurban Center for the Arts, the See Ya Later Foundation, the Auburn Valley YMCA and the White River Valley Museum also created benches to reflect their organizations.

Each bench includes signage about its creators and a smart-phone mobile tour (www.stqry.com) revealing the locations of all the benches throughout town.

In October the benches will be gathered and stored for the winter, and be redistributed for the following summer along with new community created benches.

BenchMarks is coordinated through the City of Auburn, Parks, Arts & Recreation Division.

For information on BenchMark, visit www.auburnwa.gov/arts or call 253-931-3043.

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BenchMarks lineup:

• Bench by: Auburn Noon Lions
Lead Artist, Julia Wood
Location: downtown, East Main and D Street NE (across the street from Zola’s)

• Bench by: Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation
Location: White River Trail near the Game Farm Wilderness Campground and Frisbee Golf Course.

• Bench by: Auburn Riverside High School
Auburn School District faculty Gina Sandland and Christian Miller
Location: Sunset Park

• Bench by:Auburn Valley Creative Arts
Lead artist: Zachary Tanner
Location: M Street and 4th Street SE

• Bench by: Auburn Valley YMCA, teen programs
Location: Issac Evans Park, near the main parking lot

• Bench by: Kiwanis Club of Auburn, afternoon
Lead artist, Mary Ellen Bowers
Location: Auburn Golf Course

• Bench by: Interurban Center for the Arts
with Maple Lawn Elementary
Location: Game Farm Park, near the playground

• Bench by: Kiwanis Club, Morning
Lead Artist, Ronie and Jim Schwend
Location: Brannan Park, near playground

• Bench by: Auburn Mountainview High School
Auburn School District faculty Cary Davidson
Location: Lea Hill Park, near the playground

• Bench by: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, youth program
Location: City Hall Plaza Park, across Main Street from City Hall)

• Bench by: See Ya Later Foundation
Lead artist: John Curry
Location: Interurban Trail, near West Main Street

• Bench by: Suzy Fountaine
Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 7 – celebrating 50 years
Location: To be determined, downtown Auburn, B Street Plaza area

• Bench by: White River Valley Museum
Lead artist, Rachael McAlister
Location: To be determined

• Bench by: Michael Taskey
Auburn’s historic downtown Main Street
Location: To be determined