BENCHES FOR BID

Elaine Caldwell relaxes on a bench sponsored by Peninsula Friends of Animals, U.S. Bank and Dynamic Duo Real Estate. It reads “Paws Along Life’s Way to Smell the Flowers.” Photo by Avani Nadkarni

OTA presents a benchmark fundraiser

by Avani Nadkarni

Elaine Caldwell said it has been a long-term goal of hers to create a community art project, one that would involve all of Sequim and raise art awareness in its residents.

The Olympic Theatre Arts former president and current member of the board of trustees has seen her vision come to life with “The Benchmark Project,” that had businesses and individuals sponsoring and designing 10 benches that now are up for bidding by the public.

“The goals are twofold,” Caldwell explained, “to raise awareness about art to the community and to raise money for OTA.”

Caldwell was on vacation in Silverton, Ore., just east of Salem, when an article in the local paper caught her eye — a group in the town was doing a similar project and Caldwell decided to try and make it work in Sequim.

She brought the idea to OTA and began organizing the project. The first step, she said, was going to businesses and groups and asking them to sponsor a bench.

“I was surprised at the reaction; everyone said yes,” Caldwell said. “They are as excited about this as I am.”

Although the business owners all were supportive, there were varying degrees of involvement. Some had a specific artist in mind and others sponsored a bench and allowed Caldwell to choose the artist.

The children of SNAP (Special Needs Advocacy Parents) designed one bench, painting it blue and green with an arching rainbow of hearts spraying across the backrest.

Caldwell designed a bench named “The Garry Oak,” the symbol of the Sequim Community Foundation — one of the bench’s sponsors — which actively supports oak preservation projects in Sequim. In Caldwell’s design, the oak sprawls from the bottom of the bench to the top and the snow-peaked Olympic Mountains loom in the background.

“I took the drawing from a tree that’s actually standing here in Sequim,” Caldwell said, referring to an oak on Sequim Avenue. “Painting this bench was a great project for me.”

The benches, which are up for bidding until the OTA gala on May 20, were created by Olympic Outdoor Furniture owner Jim Willauer and have the names of the sponsors and artists displayed on them. Once they are purchased, however, the top bidder can place them wherever they please, Caldwell stressed.

“Once someone buys the bench, it’s theirs,” she said. “They can do whatever they want with them.”

Caldwell said the project already is getting rave reviews from those who have seen the benches and she has half a dozen people eager to sponsor a bench for next year.

“I’ve wanted a community art project for a long time,” she said. “I really want to see local businesses, organizations and individuals come together in support of the arts. The benches are beautiful.”