NEWS
Golisano Children’s Hospital Helps with Community-Wide Art Project
Patients on the play deck decorated the bench with paint-filled syringes. Squirting paint out of the syringes is just one of the many activities patients do with Child Life staff to become more comfortable with the hospital environment. Local artist Amy Frieling helped the children squirt the paint.
Beginning this spring, the benches will be displayed around the Rochester-area through a collaborative art initiative called Benches on Parade. The benches will eventually be auctioned off and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Nazareth College Arts Center, the Rochester City Ballet, the New York Wine and Culinary Center and an additional nonprofit of the winner’s choice.
Philip Burke, internationally recognized artist, paints Chuck Mangione for Benches on Parade
Yesterday, Jan. 28, internationally recognized artist, Philip Burke, painted Chuck Mangione on a bench for Benches on Parade. Burke is best known for his vivid caricatures that have adorned the pages of Rolling Stone, Time, the New Yorker and the New York Times.
With his eclectic music pumping, Burke started by sketching the musician using oils. Using his unique style of explosive color and distortion, Burke continued to bring Mangione to life.
The bench is being painted for Heron Hill Winery and will be on parade this spring.
Benches on Parade Unveils First Completed Bench at RazorSharks' Home Opener
On Saturday, Jan. 23, Benches on Parade, presented by Nazareth College, unveiled the first completed bench at the RazorSharks’ home opener at 2:00 p.m. In addition to the unveiling, a Rochester family that suffered a house fire last week watched the game courtside sitting on the unveiled bench. The family is receiving aid from the American Red Cross.
“The first family to sit on the bench suffered a house fire last Tuesday and lost their home on Jay Street ,” said John Buttrill, CEO of the Greater Rochester Red Cross. “The Red Cross responded to give the family shelter, food, clothing and emotional support to help them get back on their feet. Thanks to Benches on Parade and the Rochester RazorSharks this family was able to enjoy an afternoon of spending time with eachother and watching a basketball game courtside.”
Sponsored by the RazorSharks, the bench was designed, constructed and painted by community artists Chris Pallace and Kevin Serwacki. The bench, which will be displayed at each home game during the season, was created around the RazorSharks logo, the shark. Each game a small group of fans will be chosen from the crowd to sit on the bench. By design of the bench, fans will appear to be sitting in a deep blue ocean with a shark jumping from the water taking a bite out of a basketball.
“What an exciting day for Benches on Parade and the community of Rochester,” said Howie Jacobson, managing partner at Dixon Schwabl, producers of Benches on Parade. “We unveiled the very first completed bench and a family was able to enjoy the RazorSharks’ game courtside.”
“The RazorSharks team is thrilled to participate in this community-wide arts project,” said Orest Hrywnak, president and co-owner of the RazorSharks. “This bench provides the spark that will ignite the RazorSharks’ spirit and pride throughout the season.”
Mayor Duffy's Rochester Literacy Movement Partners with Benches on Parade
Today, Benches on Parade announced its partnership with the Rochester Literacy Movement, allowing participating Rochester City School students to promote and communicate literacy in a unique and funky way. As part of this collaboration, nine Rochester City Schools will each design and create a bench that supports literacy within the community. Two local philanthropists, Lauren Dixon and Howie Jacobson donated seven benches, while M&T Bank and Jasco Tools, Inc. donated the remaining two.
The Rochester City High Schools participating in this partnership include, James Monroe, Charlotte, Northeast, Francis Parker, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Freddie Thomas, Edison Technical and Occupational Education Center, and the School of the Arts.
“The Rochester Literacy Movement is proud to partner with Benches on Parade,” said Jean Howard, Chief of Staff, City of Rochester. “This community-wide arts and cultural project will continue to bring excitement to the Greater Rochester area and energize the community to think differently about literacy.”
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The Benches are here!
Business owners, non-profits, community leaders and artists gathered in front of the Gannett building on Oct. 12 at 55 Exchange St. to welcome a truck-load of "naked" benches to Rochester for Benches on Parade. The community arts project, Benches on Parade, presented by Nazareth College, will bring functional art across the Rochester region featuring local, national, and international artists.
March 1-15, 2010:...
May 10, 2010: VIP Preview...
The bench – ah yes, THE bench. The place we’ve been sanding, shaping, glassing and smoothing as...
