Friday, August 20, 1999
Park benches with pizazz
City project lets teens apply fine art, soak up knowledge
BY DEVIN KRISTI PARRISH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Christopher Cullen, left, and Ryonen Ignatius paint an Eden park bench in an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme.
(Tony Jones photo)
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Beneath a white tent in Eden Park, the City Seats crew of 17 apprentices diligently works on a dozen benches for $5.15 an hour.
Following three heat emergency dismissals, they race under a cruel sun and in unforgiving humidity to meet their Aug. 13 deadline. That means working some extra hours and weekends.
This is City Seats' first year as part of Artworks, an eight-week summer employment and outdoor education program for 14- to 18-year-olds. Supervised by professional artists, they're giving the classic park bench cultural punch.
The works of Vincent van Gogh, Grant Wood (“American Gothic”), Pablo Picasso, and a scene from Alice in Wonderland are just some of the images students painted on benches.
A version of Henri Matisse's “Dance I” has a new interpretation. Originally featuring white women, this one has men and women of different races.
“I heard the program was fun and I like to test my artistic talents, so I came to try it out,” says Ryan McBurrows, 14, of North College Hill. “I expected it to be like this.”
Five of the 12 benches were commissioned by patrons and will go to private homes. Six will go on display at institutions such as Cincinnati Art Museum and Taft Museum. Prices vary, depending on length, the complexity of the design, and the cost of the wrought-iron ends. The “American Gothic” bench is on display and for sale ($600-$700, negotiable) at the Enjoy the Arts building, 1338 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.
Practiced on chairs
The project began in late June. The City Seats students, led by Adrienne Thompson and three teaching assistants, took field trips to local art museums.
They looked at paintings and studied different design techniques need to construct appropriate benches. They made sketches and learned more about the artists whose work they would be imitating.
For practice, they were divided into teams and given five discarded chairs to transform into art — in three days. One more thing: No blank space could be left on the chairs.
“(The project) had them jump in so fast, they didn't have time to think "I don't know how to draw,' or "This person doesn't know what they're doing,' ” Ms. Thompson says.
The chair projects also encouraged them to “take art seriously,” she says. “There are so many dimensions (to art). Artists just don't run out and paint pictures.” They also do research, study and take notes.
There were two “nightmare” chairs. One had scenes of children's toys with a scary monster that appears through a hidden window. The other had a monster's head of fur made into an extended part of the back of a chair.
Four out of five of the chairs were bought by private owners which “was a surprise because they were just exercises,” Ms. Thompson says.
Coming together
Then it was time to put all that practice into motion on the benches.
Before the apprentices began painting, they made drawings of the bench designs so their painting would be accurate.
They also had to learn basic carpentry skills — how to cut and prime the wood, how to get the wood on the wrought-iron bench ends, how to apply polyurethane and sand the benches for durability.
“They pick up on a lot of things by observing and paying attention,” says Steve Ziebarth, one of the assistants and a professor of painting at Miami University. “It all comes together at some point.”
Teams were switched as the projects changed. Stronger students were mixed with students who had average or little experience. The changes taught them to depend on the members of their teams, not their teachers.
“I want them to learn self-direction,” Ms. Thompson says. “To integrate that on the job and to learn art. Even if they don't choose art as a career, I want them to experience what artists and designers go through.”
The experience students gained from Artworks made a lot of them change their career goals. Many have decided to study art after they graduate from high school. Their work with City Seats can serve as a legitimate reference in future job interviews.
“This process has encouraged more kids and will hopefully encourage more money to the program,” says Ryonen Ignatius, a teaching assistant and Fine Arts student at the University of Cincinnati.
A better artist
Ryan McBurrows says he's not the same artist he was when he came to Artworks. He went from sketching on paper to working with paints and experimenting with carpentry. He has earned confidence in trying all aspects of art and design.
“Adrienne (Thompson) said I would be a better artist by the time the program ended, and I am. I'm thinking about doing this project again next year.
“I like it a lot,” he says. “I like everything a lot. The artists (whose work has been re-created for the benches) use different techniques. We try to capture that and put it on the bench. (Because of this project) I definitely have more appreciation for art.”
City Seats are in such high demand, discussions to keep the project continuing through the school year have begun.
Artworks is taking commissions for next summer's City Seats benches. Call Tamara Harkavy at 333-0388.
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