NEWS
Kodak Smiles at Benches on Parade
Nearly 300 people participated in Kodak's "What Makes You Smile?" contest this weekend at the Lilac Festival.
Benches on Parade team members were stationed at the unique Kodak benches on the corner of Highland and Goodman. Bench on-lookers were asked if they would like to participate and nearly 300 did. The contest is a summer-long event and submissions are accepted through August 25. Those who would like to participate can visit www.benchesonparade.com for more details.
The rules are simple, sit on a bench, take a photo or video and share it on www.kodakmoments.com/benches. Voting on the best moments will run from September 1-20 and the winners will be announced on September 24. The winners will receive a Kodak Pocket Video Camera.
So...grab your camera, take a seat and share your moment!
Everybody loves a parade!
Our region has an abundance of talented artists- from internationally acclaimed professional to budding elementary school children- who are eager to share their creativity with all of us.
The benches are on parade-all 117 of them. So grab an official Benches on Parade map, your camera and join in on the parade. The benches were created to share with our community and start conversation. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, Benches on Parade is your opportunity to sit back and enjoy everything our community has to offer.
If you missed the map in Sunday's (May 16) Democrat & Chronicle, then download an official map on www.benchesonparade.com. You can also learn more about each bench on the website, the artist and the sponsor.
Benches on Parade V.I.P Preview Party- All the benches in one location
More than 800 sponsors, artists and guests gathered to preview the Benches on Parade benches at the Rochester Tech Park on May 10.
Filled with trees, bikes, campfires, and a Maggie Moo's ice cream cart, invited guests walked the indoor sidewalk to view nearly 120 benches, designed, constructed, and crafted by local, national and international artists.
Starting today, May 12, the benches hit the streets and by May 15 all of the benches will be scattered throughout the Greater Rochester Region until late September 2010.
The finished benches will be auctioned off on September 24 to the highest bidder and all proceeds will benefit Nazareth Arts Center, New York Wine & Culinary Center, Rochester City Ballet and the highest bidder's nonprofit of choice.
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.”
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.
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