The Rocky River Early Childhood PTA sponsored this bench near Old Detroit Road. Artist Jennifer Golya titled the bench “Summertime Solace.” (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Rocky River Junior Women’s Club
places benches around city
By Danielle Toth
Rocky River
Published July 28, 2010

If you’ve traveled through Rocky River recently, you may have noticed the addition of several decorated benches throughout the city.

The benches are part of the Rocky River Junior Women’s Club’s Sitting Pretty Bench 2010 Project. The 20 wooden benches will be on display through August. They will then be auctioned off to benefit the Rocky River Assistance Program, a program the RRJWC founded and operates that helps residents in need of food and clothing. The auction will take place Aug. 19 at Westwood Country Club, 22625 Detroit Road.

“The Junior Women’s Club did this project in 2000, 2001 and 2002,” said RRJWC member Shannon Lukz, who is in charge of the project. “Last summer, we were having conversations about the club and the ways we can be involved in the community. We thought this was a great idea to raise funds for the Rocky River Assistance Program and also something that would be fun in the summer and bring art to the community.

“This is such an active city. People enjoy walking, running and biking so much that we thought this was the right time to bring this back while people are out and enjoying it throughout the summer.”

The club purchased the benches from Amish Swings & Things in Grafton. The club has worked with the business before, and it provides “phenomenal” quality, Lukz said.

Many individuals, families, organizations and businesses sponsored the benches. Some are placed near the sponsor, such as the bench in front of Charles Scott Salon and Spa. Others were placed in high-traffic areas or areas that were similar to the scene portrayed on the bench, Lukz said. Each bench includes an information card that highlights the bench’s name, artist and sponsor.

“We tried to think about the population of people that would be using that area or who is around there the most and might enjoy that particular bench or that particular scene,” she said.

The club contacted artists who had been involved in the past and also received recommendations from club members, friends, schools and local galleries, Lukz said.

“The artists decided the themes,” she said. “All of the themes come out of a passion or experience the artist had. Each is very much close to the artist and a part of the artist.”

A great thing about the project is that it involves the community on so many different levels, Lukz said. Not only are local artists involved, but local children decorated the bench at the Rocky River City Hall complex during River Days on July 10.

“We painted one bench with just grass and stems,” Lukz said. “The kids used paint pens to paint flowers. Once their creative juices got flowing, they went beyond flowers to dragonflies and butterflies and planes. It was a really neat way to involve them in the project as well.”

The project has also become a game for some residents, who have challenged themselves to find all the benches, Lukz said.

“I’ve heard of a little girl going on walks and taking pictures of the benches and a family taking a bike ride trying to find them all,” she said. “It’s almost like a scavenger hunt in that people want to find ones they haven’t seen yet. It’s talked about and creates excitement and interest in people.”