Finding Art Across SDSU with The Art Bench Project
Student-designed benches are making art more visible at SDSU
December 4, 2017
By: Elizabeth Allison
The SDSU campus has become more colorful over the past few years, thanks to the Art Bench Project. Since the spring of 2014, Arts Alive SDSU has partnered with faculty and students from graphic design to integrate the Art Bench Project into their curriculum. Before they begin painting, the student teams are responsible for conducting in depth research as part of their course work.
Arts Visibility Across Campus
By having the student-designed and painted benches located all over campus, Arts Alive SDSU is able to present vibrant and compelling visual art for the entire campus community.
Chris McCampbell is teaching the graphic design class that will be painting the newest group of art benches in December 2017. "I believe the bench project is a wonderful way to engage the broader SDSU population with art,” said McCampbell. “It's a fun and unique way to make artistic connections and bring new character and life to campus.”
Painted benches can be found in four main hubs, including the Performing Arts Plaza, the Hepner Hall Quad, outside the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, and the College of Education Courtyard.
Additionally, there are two specialty areas where art benches were commissioned. One bench outside Scripps Cottage was painted to honor the Scripps family, and in 2015, local artist Monty Montgomery painted two benches outside the Faculty Staff Club.
“It is very gratifying to see functional art being used by students,” said second year painting MFA student Remi Dalton, who designed and painted the bench by Scripps Cottage. “The art benches brighten our campus and allow art to roam outside of the art building.”
The Arts in SDSU’s History
For the last 120 years, SDSU has been committed to excellence in the arts. In December 2017, a new art bench hub will introduce five new painted benches on Campanile Walkway, bringing the total of art benches across SDSU’s campus to fifty-five.
The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.
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