It's February and I'm seeing red.
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"Reyjkavik" by Moyan Brenn / CC BY-SA 2.0 |
I'm trying to think how to write this blog.
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| Otto Dix, Portrait of Sylvia von Harden 1926 |
Of course, I love red benches . . .
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| http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/ |
but there is just too much red about because of you-know-what day.
There are too many lips . . .
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Too many loved up couples . . .
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| Marc Chagall, The Lovers 1929 |
and waaaaaaay too much kissing.
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This time of year even the benches get decked out in red.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/edith |
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| Woman in a Red Dress 1936, Sir John Lavery |
Yes, I can see this is two chairs. Just go with me here.
This dancer looked racy in a tight fitting dress.
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| Dancer Anita Berber 1925, Otto Dix |
And this Sudanese beauty looks very cool too.
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| Sudanese Beauty 1860, Leopold Muller |
Are you wearing red? I am. I bought this jacket on ebay for $35. Apparently it was only worn once.
I can see why.
Hello, Eddie. It's a red letter day!
You need to introduce me and show my picture.
This is Eddie, my Inner Editor, who just happens to be a primate.
What do you think of red benches, Eddie?
Not interested. I'm riding my goose down to the deli to get some breakfast.
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LuciusArt |
It's too late for breakfast. It's working hours now and we need to get started.
These brilliant red benches are like a red rag to a bull for red-blooded bench people like me.
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| my photo, LAAC Museum, Dunkirk |
Get on and show them then. Don't send readers off on a red herring.
Eddie and I have a difficult relationship. He really messed up my September calendar by putting dates in that didn't belong.
Eddie: You were using the Julian calendar - that's soooo 1751.
Eddie tends to over think things with his monkey business.
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| Monkey with Skull, 1893, Hugo Rheinhold |
Although we did the previous Blue Benches together and we got along reasonably well.
But last year our relationship broke down in the middle of the Red Benches.
I had to fold that story up and put it away, like this sofa that comes in a backpack.
So let's start again, shall we?
Welcome to the Red Bench post, where I want to (red) alert you to some red-hot benches.
Maybe we could agree right now to lose the puns?
I think you're right about that, Eddie.
We'll start with these bright red benches at Schiphol Airport Station near Amsterdam.
I notice that the caption for this says stoolsampler. It's not really a stool sample as we know it.
That's because stool literally means stool in Dutch.
So I'm expected to speak Dutch now?
No, but while we're on the subject, here is a lovely bench in Antwerp.
Antwerp is in Belgium.
Yes, I know. But it's close enough. They speak Flemish, which is . . .
I don't need a lesson in geography. Could we keep to the subject please.
Alright.
Here is den røde benken with a message in Norwegian.
Norwegian now too. What's next - Japanese?
I think you can work out that den røde benken means the red bench in Norwegian.
I'm expected to be multi-lingual and all for the same lousy pay.
Eddie, the details of your employment contract are private.
And I'm trying to keep the thread of the story here.
This Thread Bench by Swedish designer Ola Giertz is just amazing. It's the sort of thing I'd love to get for Christmas.
Santa, are you listening?
Jewelry is a nice present too. And with Valentine's Day coming up,
here's a lovely little silver man sitting on a red bench.
He's going to regret sitting there.
Why's that?
Oh, I see what you mean.
Et maintenant, La France.
Une banc rouge dans les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac en Dordogne - et voilà!
Here are two reasons why you should not be using French:
1. This is an English-speaking blog and you are likely to send your readers away to Google Translator, from which they will never return
2. your French is rubbish
D'accord.
But anyway, this is a Louis XIV banquette, which was a wedding present from Lord and Lady Brassica to their son Root.
Root's wife Innocent took it back to the shop and exchanged it for this little red bench.
She kept the change, which was in the tens of thousands I gather. So far no one has noticed the new bench.
They're probably looking at Innocent's hotpants.
But last year our relationship broke down in the middle of the Red Benches.
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I had to fold that story up and put it away, like this sofa that comes in a backpack.
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| http://www.chairblog.eu/2011/11/15/built-to-resist-sofa |
So let's start again, shall we?
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| www.fruitylemonade.blogspot.com |
Welcome to the Red Bench post, where I want to (red) alert you to some red-hot benches.
Maybe we could agree right now to lose the puns?
I think you're right about that, Eddie.
We'll start with these bright red benches at Schiphol Airport Station near Amsterdam.
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| http://stoolsampler.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/amsterdam |
I notice that the caption for this says stoolsampler. It's not really a stool sample as we know it.
That's because stool literally means stool in Dutch.
So I'm expected to speak Dutch now?
No, but while we're on the subject, here is a lovely bench in Antwerp.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/vainsang/ |
Antwerp is in Belgium.
Yes, I know. But it's close enough. They speak Flemish, which is . . .
I don't need a lesson in geography. Could we keep to the subject please.
Alright.
Here is den røde benken with a message in Norwegian.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/erlingsi/with/12027115456/ |
Norwegian now too. What's next - Japanese?
I think you can work out that den røde benken means the red bench in Norwegian.
I'm expected to be multi-lingual and all for the same lousy pay.
Eddie, the details of your employment contract are private.
And I'm trying to keep the thread of the story here.
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| www.olagiertz.se |
This Thread Bench by Swedish designer Ola Giertz is just amazing. It's the sort of thing I'd love to get for Christmas.
Santa, are you listening?
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/legup2p/ |
Jewelry is a nice present too. And with Valentine's Day coming up,
here's a lovely little silver man sitting on a red bench.
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/YAELandTAL |
He's going to regret sitting there.
Why's that?
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/YAELandTAL |
Oh, I see what you mean.
Et maintenant, La France.
Une banc rouge dans les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac en Dordogne - et voilà!
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eyrignac_Manor |
Here are two reasons why you should not be using French:
1. This is an English-speaking blog and you are likely to send your readers away to Google Translator, from which they will never return
2. your French is rubbish
D'accord.
But anyway, this is a Louis XIV banquette, which was a wedding present from Lord and Lady Brassica to their son Root.
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| https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:N%C2%B0746-12_banquette |
Root's wife Innocent took it back to the shop and exchanged it for this little red bench.
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She kept the change, which was in the tens of thousands I gather. So far no one has noticed the new bench.
They're probably looking at Innocent's hotpants.
I will resist the temptation to say red hot.
By the way, my dialogue in this post isn't proper red.
I don't use red. Too much like school. Reminds me of teachers writing
could do better
You could do better though. Most of your work is appalling. It shows little effort, a lack of imagination and poor skills. You could do better if you
Thank you, Eddie.
Now back to the Brassicas. It is rumoured that Lady B has a throne at Drizzly Manor.
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chateau_de_Versailles |
It was a Valentine's present last year. It's right next to her replica mall apparently.
.JPG)
I guess an ordinary heart bench wouldn't do?
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsofan/8391303537/in/photolist- |
Of course not. Lady Brassica is a woman of the world.
To the other side of the world then.
Here is a cheerful bench from New Mexico which gives a bright, southwesterly feel to the story.
This lovely red bench is set against a backdrop of the mountains.
There's something weird about these mountains.
And here we are in Lithuania, chalking up another red bench.
This bench looks orange to me. And you're doing that thing that I complained about before.
What's that, Eddie?
That Here is one bench, here is another bench thing. It bores people to tears.
Sorry, Eddie. Maybe I should bring in a cute little dog to liven things up?
That is a cheap trick. No one will fall for it.
How about a cat then?
This smacks of desperation.
You could practice your German here, Eddie. Looking at the photo above, can you guess what roter kater auf roter bank means?
I am not paid to translate German.
I'll give you a hint: kater means cat and bank means bench.
Does the phrase sprechen Sie mit der Pfote mean anything to you?
No, I will not speak to the paw.
You're trying to dodge the issue.
I just want to avoid the red tape and show some great red benches.
I caught you red-handed in a pun there.
Sorry, I'm snowed under with red benches.
I'm going out for elevensies.
Starbucks I suppose?
Whatever. I'll be about an hour.
An hour for elevensies? You must be joking. Your contract allows one fifteen minute break.
You've just got time to go out and get a cappucino.
Or a tomato bench.
I don't eat tomatoes.
Well, a banana bench then.
It's not red.
To the other side of the world then.
Here is a cheerful bench from New Mexico which gives a bright, southwesterly feel to the story.
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Visenhowerphoto |
This lovely red bench is set against a backdrop of the mountains.
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There's something weird about these mountains.
And here we are in Lithuania, chalking up another red bench.
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_bench |
What's that, Eddie?
That Here is one bench, here is another bench thing. It bores people to tears.
Sorry, Eddie. Maybe I should bring in a cute little dog to liven things up?
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That is a cheap trick. No one will fall for it.
How about a cat then?
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This smacks of desperation.
You could practice your German here, Eddie. Looking at the photo above, can you guess what roter kater auf roter bank means?
I am not paid to translate German.
I'll give you a hint: kater means cat and bank means bench.
Does the phrase sprechen Sie mit der Pfote mean anything to you?
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No, I will not speak to the paw.
You're trying to dodge the issue.
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TailgateGuy |
I just want to avoid the red tape and show some great red benches.
I caught you red-handed in a pun there.
Sorry, I'm snowed under with red benches.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/53482954@N00/ |
I'm going out for elevensies.
Starbucks I suppose?
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| http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/perfectly-punctuated-benches |
Whatever. I'll be about an hour.
An hour for elevensies? You must be joking. Your contract allows one fifteen minute break.
You've just got time to go out and get a cappucino.
Or a tomato bench.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/rudebigdog/ |
I don't eat tomatoes.
Well, a banana bench then.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/imjustwalkin/6849110336/ |
It's not red.
True.
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| Source unknown |
It's very a-peeling though.
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| www.wamhouse.pl |
It looks good enough to eat.
By the way, Eddie, did you know that the term Red Bench means a place for conversation?
I think you have confused me with someone who cares.
Faust and Marguerite found this lovely red bench for a quiet chat in the garden.
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| http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/james-tissot/faust-and-marguerite-in-the-garden |
Is this before or after he made his pact with the devil?
Certainly. I went to a red-brick university.
So did I. But I know nothing about opera. We were just up, up and away in those days, if you know what I mean.
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| http://www.h220430.jp |
This looks orange to me.
No, it's from Japanese designer Satoshi Itasaka and it's actually called
赤い風船
No kidding.
The Red Balloon.
I can't argue with that.
Well, that makes a change.
And now, as I was saying, there are an awful lot of organisations called Red Bench.
Here is a logo from a company which helps people to organize their businesses with purpose and passion.
And here is a direct quote from Betty Sue Flowers :
"I once had the idea of having a red bench in every corporation. And the red bench would be an invitation to conversations that matter. So if you sat on the red bench, you'd be saying, I'm open to a conversation about . . . something that matters to me."
Heady stuff. Who is Betty Sue Flowers?
She's the one who had the idea of putting red benches in public places so that by sitting on the bench, you are signalling to others that you are open to a conversation.
A conversation about what?
Something that really matters.
My pay and conditions?
No, not that.
Benches?
Yes. That would count.
Do they have to be red?
No, I don't think so.
A lot of conversations then?
Yes.
Maybe we could move on without hearing all of them?
Here's another organisation which has Red Bench conversations.
About what?
Their community. These are people who feel very blessed to live in Austin, Texas.
I'm sure Austin, Texas is very nice. But could we get on with the benches now?
Yes. Here is a picture of a bench in Austin, Texas.
It's not red.
But it's in Austin, Texas and it's very good quality and it's 95% recycled.
Well, that's something I suppose. But it's not red.
As you can see, there are many, many organisations using the Red Bench concept. Among them, I found . . .
No, seriously, don't start naming them.
It's lunchtime and I'm going out. There's a new diner I want to try.
Is this the one?
No. That's in Memphis. Too far. And it looks to me like these benches are pink rather than red.
Have you been cyberslacking this morning?
What? Looking up les restaurantes in working hours? Moi?
So where are you going then?
Wow, that's brilliant, Eddie! We'll just finish up this post and I'll come with you.
No chance. I'm out of here now. See you in two hours.
Two hours? Your lunch break is only thirty minutes.
It's a sliding scale though. Like this bench. It slides back and forth with a bit of leeway in the middle.
There is no leeway in your contract, Eddie.
I know. I'm constantly in the red. I haven't even got a dollar to feed my family.
How about some Red Bench Jam?
Doesn't sound tasty. Is the jam actually made from benches?
I don't think so. You can get Red Bench Jam in Rupert, Vermont, which is made from blueberries, and strawberries and cranberries and chillis.
But there are also Red Bench Jam sessions somewhere, at which, I think, you are expected to turn up and make music.
I'm not paid to do that.
I don't like your attitude, Eddie. You just won't play ball.
I have only one answer to that:
Right. That does it. I've reviewed our professional relationship and I think you need to spend more time with your family.
In other words, I'm putting you on Garden Bench Leave.
You tried that before. No more fauxpologies. I've had enough.
Here is a gift bench to show there are no hard feelings.
Take it or leave it, Zoobreath.
You seem to have forgotten what happened last time you tried to fire me.
They were outside my house for weeks.
And you should know that I've written to the president about my contract of employment.
Oh yeah?
Which president is that?
I sent him a full report.
Good heavens! He seems to be reading it in the Red Room of the White House. And on a red bench. Even though he isn't President any more.
I'm feeling a bit red-faced here.
Indeed. Some apologetic flowers wouldn't go amiss.
For ex-President Obama?
No, for me.
Here you go then. The note on the bench says Will work for Chocolate.
I will not work for chocolate.
I didn't think you would.
So, do you have any more interesting red benches? By interesting I mean cleverly designed, arty, unique?
I'm glad you asked. Because I was bowled over by this kirv bench made by designer and metalsmith Alex Moore.
That's moore like it. Any moore good ones?
Yes. My favourite red bench is this linear metal bench which winds its way through Red Ribbon Park in Qinhuangdao in China. It's 500 metres long . . .
. . . and it lights up at night
Gorgeous. It's a shame it took so long to get here.
Yes, that's because of you. You keep butting in and I've only shown half the red benches I wanted to show.
I don't care I'm heading west.
Here is a logo from a company which helps people to organize their businesses with purpose and passion.
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| http://www.aredbench.com/ |
And here is a direct quote from Betty Sue Flowers :
"I once had the idea of having a red bench in every corporation. And the red bench would be an invitation to conversations that matter. So if you sat on the red bench, you'd be saying, I'm open to a conversation about . . . something that matters to me."
Heady stuff. Who is Betty Sue Flowers?
She's the one who had the idea of putting red benches in public places so that by sitting on the bench, you are signalling to others that you are open to a conversation.
A conversation about what?
Something that really matters.
My pay and conditions?
No, not that.
Benches?
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benches |
Yes. That would count.
Do they have to be red?
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| www.etsy.com/shop/AnchorMySoul |
No, I don't think so.
A lot of conversations then?
Yes.
Maybe we could move on without hearing all of them?
Here's another organisation which has Red Bench conversations.
About what?
Their community. These are people who feel very blessed to live in Austin, Texas.
I'm sure Austin, Texas is very nice. But could we get on with the benches now?
Yes. Here is a picture of a bench in Austin, Texas.
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| http://krrb.com/ |
It's not red.
But it's in Austin, Texas and it's very good quality and it's 95% recycled.
Well, that's something I suppose. But it's not red.
As you can see, there are many, many organisations using the Red Bench concept. Among them, I found . . .
No, seriously, don't start naming them.
It's lunchtime and I'm going out. There's a new diner I want to try.
Is this the one?
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovememphis/ |
No. That's in Memphis. Too far. And it looks to me like these benches are pink rather than red.
Have you been cyberslacking this morning?
What? Looking up les restaurantes in working hours? Moi?
So where are you going then?
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Wow, that's brilliant, Eddie! We'll just finish up this post and I'll come with you.
No chance. I'm out of here now. See you in two hours.
Two hours? Your lunch break is only thirty minutes.
It's a sliding scale though. Like this bench. It slides back and forth with a bit of leeway in the middle.
.jpg) |
| http://www.frankwillems.net/ |
There is no leeway in your contract, Eddie.
I know. I'm constantly in the red. I haven't even got a dollar to feed my family.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrydincher/ |
We are getting into a circular argument here.
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Yes, we're in a bit of a jam.
How about some Red Bench Jam?
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| http://www.vermontspecialtyfoods.org/member.php/lid/255 |
Doesn't sound tasty. Is the jam actually made from benches?
I don't think so. You can get Red Bench Jam in Rupert, Vermont, which is made from blueberries, and strawberries and cranberries and chillis.
But there are also Red Bench Jam sessions somewhere, at which, I think, you are expected to turn up and make music.
I'm not paid to do that.
I don't like your attitude, Eddie. You just won't play ball.
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| ©David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license |
I have only one answer to that:
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TypographyTourist |
Right. That does it. I've reviewed our professional relationship and I think you need to spend more time with your family.
In other words, I'm putting you on Garden Bench Leave.
You tried that before. No more fauxpologies. I've had enough.
Here is a gift bench to show there are no hard feelings.
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This is a rubbish bench. The paint is peeling and a plank is missing. And it's NOT RED.
Take it or leave it, Zoobreath.
You seem to have forgotten what happened last time you tried to fire me.
They were outside my house for weeks.
And you should know that I've written to the president about my contract of employment.
Oh yeah?
Which president is that?
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Good heavens! He seems to be reading it in the Red Room of the White House. And on a red bench. Even though he isn't President any more.
I'm feeling a bit red-faced here.
Indeed. Some apologetic flowers wouldn't go amiss.
For ex-President Obama?
No, for me.
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| www.fififlowers.com |
Here you go then. The note on the bench says Will work for Chocolate.
I will not work for chocolate.
I didn't think you would.
So, do you have any more interesting red benches? By interesting I mean cleverly designed, arty, unique?
I'm glad you asked. Because I was bowled over by this kirv bench made by designer and metalsmith Alex Moore.
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| www.mooredesigns.co.uk |
That's moore like it. Any moore good ones?
Yes. My favourite red bench is this linear metal bench which winds its way through Red Ribbon Park in Qinhuangdao in China. It's 500 metres long . . .
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| http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/ |
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| http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/ |
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| http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/ |
. . . and it lights up at night
Gorgeous. It's a shame it took so long to get here.
Yes, that's because of you. You keep butting in and I've only shown half the red benches I wanted to show.
I don't care I'm heading west.
Mae West?
I see we're back where we started with the lips.
Yes, and I've had enough red benches.
Me too. I'm going to Cancun for the rest of the winter. Hasta luego. See you in five weeks.
Five weeks! You only have two weeks holiday and you've already used it up for this year.
You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
Credits
Five weeks! You only have two weeks holiday and you've already used it up for this year.
You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
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As regular readers of Benchsite will know, I am lucky enough to have two husbands. One is Mungo, my imaginary husband. I lost my heart to him when we met in Las Vegas. It all happened so fast. My real husband is His Excellency and though he forgets Valentine's Day every year, sometimes he is an excellent Valentine. Both men are excellent in their different ways, as shown through their woodworking skills.
Italian-born Moyan Brenn made his very first shot with an HP digital compact camera in 2005. Since then he has travelled all over the world finding gorgeous places and beautiful subjects for his photography. At Reykjavik Airport in April 2014 he photographed the pretty heart and padlock bench for Flickr Creative Commons. https://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/14317481793/ His images are under license CC-BY-2.0
The brilliant Portrait of journalist Sylvia von Harden is an oil painting done in 1926 by German artist Otto Dix (1891-1969). The Dancer Anita Berber is also by Dix. Berlin in the interwar years was some kind of town.
The man with a heart head is Working Man, located at The Cube, a 25-storey building in the city centre of Birmingham UK. The Cube houses a mix of offices, shops, restaurants and apartments and inside the building’s central courtyard atrium is an exclusive portfolio of art pieces by contemporary artist, Temper, whose work is dedicated to and influenced by ‘The Lovely People’ of the city he loves. Each of Temper’s pieces immortalises a real person who has inspired others and demonstrates a source of pride for the city. Working Man was photographed by Barry O'Neil in 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_ellis/7237391078/
The Lovers are not on a red bench, I know. They were painted by Marc Chagall (1887-1985). Chagall and his wife were very loved up and he painted them many times.
The brilliant red lips bench was seen on International Kissing Day 2014 at the Baci restaurant, along the Yarra River, Melbourne. The photographer is Andy Blackledge, a hockeyholic who enjoys capturing interesting images, especially flowers, birds, fish, and landscapes. From Scottsdale, Arizona, Andy's travel photography adds to the memory and appreciation of the places he visits https://www.flickr.com/photos/hockeyholic/14073819139
The beautiful red bench images at the start and end of this post are the Qinhuangdao Red Ribbon Park in Hebei Province in China. The park was designed by Turenscape.com and completed in 2008. The ribbon of red steel bench runs for half a kilometre through the Tanghe River Park, which was created in a derelict area on the edge of an urban area. The aim was to preserve the natural habitat and to create a space for recreation. The work has won the American Society of Landscape Architects award and Condé Nast Traveller magazine called it one of the seven wonders of the architectural world. http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/project.php?id=336 This and other beautiful Chinese benches features in 2017 The Year of the Rooster Bench.
I must take note of ferry benches from now on. The red benches on the Dover to Calais ferry were photographed by Edith Frost in 2006. Edith is a singer songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. She took a solo camping trip last year and her Paradise Canyon set shows a very inviting swimming pond. http://www.flickr.com/photos/edith/
The photograph of Eddie working at his desk is his favourite picture. He's a great editor but he tries to slip primate pictures into Benchsite posts whenever he can, sometimes ruining my stories. The picture at the end of the post was taken last summer here in Fribble-under-Par. It was exceptionally hot and many of us, including Eddie, enjoyed cooling off in the icy waters of The Plunge. You can see what Eddie got up to in Mexico and then when he came back this autumn, he was up to his monkey business again. I finally gave him a blog of his own. I had to; it's the Year of the Monkey bench.
The bright red Kissing Jim Rocker is by Didi Dunphy in her Modern Convenience studio at www.modernconvenience.com Didi likes to bring play and free time into home decor. Her Recess line reintroduces play through sculptural furnishings which bring the free-time concept of Recess indoors. The Kissing Jim Conversational Seat is modelled after the Victorian courting chair, which allows two people to sit face to face comfortably, promoting conversation, meaningful gazing and who knows what else. Kissing Jim is made from powder-coated aluminum or, as we say in Britain, aluminium.
The bench which is tilted in the middle is in St Rynek, Poznan and was photographed in July 2013 by MOs810. It seems to be advertising Lizamy Ludzi. Ludzi means people but I don't know what Lizamy is, nor how many Lizamy People there are who might want to sit on a collapsed red bench.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Bench_St._Rynek%2C_Poznan.jpg?uselang=en-gb
The Built to Resist backpack sofa is an amazing thing. It has loads of pockets and pouches for your stuff, but still manages to foldup as a backpack. It's a 2010 collaboration between backpack makers Eastpak and Belgian designers Quinze and Milan. I saw it on the ever-surprising chairblog.eu
http://www.chairblog.eu/2011/11/15/built-to-resist-sofa-by-quinze-milan-and-eastpak/
Kevin Lucius is a graphic designer who runs Lucius Art from a tiny apartment in Chicago. He loves working with old textures, animals, and vintage design elements to produce vintage-inspired animal art and city art. I love his work and am pleased to use it here. Monkey riding a Duck is an original illustration from a vintage art print. I think it's a goose rather than a duck but maybe vintage ones look different from modern ones? https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LuciusArt
The cheerfully welcoming Welcome bench is from Sue, a first grade teacher who strives to organise, simplify and inspire. She has a colourful and creative blog at www.fruitylemonade.blogspot.com
The bright red benches at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam appeared in 2010 on the blog of Stool Sampler, the coolest sit you can find. Stool Sampler does for stools what I do for benches. In April 2010 the feature was Amsterdam airport and train station seating. All great stuff, which you can see at http://stoolsampler.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/amsterdam-airport-and-train-station-seating/
The beautiful curvy red bench was photographed by Vincent Brassinne in Borgerhouts, Antwerp in 2009. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vainsang/ Vincent lives in Bruxelles and his photostream is a Grand Tour of Europe.
Den røde benken from Norway was photographed by Erling Sivertsen, who lives in Volda in Norway. The words above the bench say, in Norwegian, meanings go in all directions. And Erling's photostream has THE most beautiful photographs of Norway. I'm planning to go to Norway and will use his photos as a travel guide. http://www.flickr.com/photos/erlingsi/
The fabulous Thread Bench (2012) is by Ola Giertz, whose studio is in Helsingborg, Sweden. http://www.olagiertz.se/ Ola's designs are characterized by clarity, simplicity and a utilitarian approach. He creates timeless products in which design, material and form are matched in harmonious dimensions and which are designed to meet the needs of the user. He designs furniture, interiors and products. He sees his work as playful and experimental, gently twisting everyday objects and situations, but also materials and manufacturing processes, in new directions.
Randy Britt (Randiana) lives near Santa Claus, Indiana and this bench was one of the ding dong benches in the Benchsite Christmas post. Randy tells me that Santa Claus is a small town in southern Indiana that was founded some 60 or 70 years ago with one man's dream of building a small "town" specifically based on tales of Santa. Randy admits that the town goes a little over-the-top with decorations for Christmas! http://www.flickr.com/photos/legup2p/
Yael and Tal's beautiful jewelry has featured many times on Benchsite. They do benches in every colour. They do tiny silver and gold people sitting on benches alone, or in couples. They talk, they read books, they swing from gorgeous dangly earrings. Yael and Tal's unique kinetic jewelry from Israel includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings for people in love. It's Valentine's Day coming up: His Excellency? Mungo? Please take note. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/YAELandTAL
The French red bench was photographed in 2010 in the gardens of Eyrignac Manor in the Dordogne by TwoWings at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eyrignac_Manor-red_bench.JPG
The red banquette is French as well. It's a "Sully" Louis XIV-style replica by Ateliers Allot Frères. But can you image Root and Innocent on this bench? Don't bother to send answers on a postcard please. I saw it on at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:N%C2%B0746-12_banquette_%22Sully%22_de_style_Louis_XIV_r%C3%A9plique_d%27un_mod%C3%A8le_d%27%C3%A9poque_r%C3%A9alis%C3%A9_par_les_Ateliers_Allot_Fr%C3%A8res_..jpg
Innocent married Root, the son of Lord and Lady Brassica, last July in a Scottish-themed wedding. The couple received a lot of benches for presents and clearly Innocent did not appreciate the expensive banquette. The cactus sofa was also discarded in the early days of their marriage. I wonder what she did with the bench I gave them?
The
wood bench with the little red heart in the corner is by John, aka
MTSOfan. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsofan/
John is a pastor who says that photography isn't just a hobby; it's
his attempt at sanity, a diversion in a life with much
responsibility, and also a way of looking at the world. John
calls his photo of a thin bench couple Holding
Hands, a whimsical bench.
He photographed it in January 2013 in Chalfont,
Pennsylvania.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsofan/8391303537/in/photolist-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsofan/8391303537/in/photolist-
The Venetian style throne is in the Chateau de Versailles at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chateau_de_Versailles_2011_Trone_venitien_1.jpg See Lord Brassica's search for a Right Royal throne for Valentine's Day. And there is clear evidence of Lady Brassica's throne at Drizzly Manor.
Lady Jessica Brassica is the wife of the Fifth Earl of Drizzly. She has always been extremely fashionable, wearing the styles personally designed for her by Joop from Overbearing in Holland. Now Lady Jess seems to be letting herself go. For the full story of the debacle and everybody's view on it, see the newspaper accounts and fashion Tweets at
http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-silver-and-gold-new-year-debacle.htmlVal Isenhower's etsy shop has framed photos and collages, greeting cards and photo tiles. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Visenhowerphoto Val lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and her photos radiate all the special colours of the southwest. The red bench shown here is in Madrid, New Mexico.
The red bench under a chalkboard was photographed in Vilnius, Lithuania in August 2012. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_bench_(7932110410).jpg?uselang=en-gb Its author is Guilluame Speurt, a young French man who spent a year of serious travelling in the lesser-known corners of Europe. Had I but youth enough, and time, that travel year would soon be mine. His travel blog is well worth a look http://mylastdestination.eu/about-guillaume-speurt/
The lovely little dog on a red bench is a Yorkshire Malteser mixed breed, photographed by Hansjorg in 2008 and now at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yorkshire_Malteser_Mix.jpg
We love dog benches here on Benchsite; http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/dog-bench-days-of-august.htmlThe German cat on a red bench was photographed in 2010 by 4028mdk09 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wei%C3%9F-roter_Kater_auf_roter_Bank.JPG For more cat benches see Meredith's post for World Cat Day.
Todd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is The Tailgate Guy. He has built 25 benches from tailgates of various kinds and they're sold on etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TailgateGuy The Dodge and all sorts of others are on his Facebook page, where you can see the whole process from tailgate to bench www.facebook.com/tailgateguy
Todd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is The Tailgate Guy. He has built 25 benches from tailgates of various kinds and they're sold on etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TailgateGuy The Dodge and all sorts of others are on his Facebook page, where you can see the whole process from tailgate to bench www.facebook.com/tailgateguy
Hugh Gray is a master plumber from Kilmarnock in Scotland. He took the sterling picture of the Stirling red bench in snow in 2010. He's a member of the Bench group on Flickr so there are lots of great photos of Scottish benches http://www.flickr.com/photos/53482954@N00/
I am particularly fond of Edible Benches. The tomato bench is in Rochester, New York, photographed by Rude Big Dog, who lives in Los Angeles and almost always has a camera with him. His photo sets includes lots of delicious-looking food and street scenes of Los Angeles which makes me homesick. The tomato bench was created by Chris Pallace and Kevin Serwacki for Benches on Parade in Rochester in 2010. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rudebigdog/
St Arbucks is a coffee shop we saw in Wiltshire a couple of years ago. It doesn't look much like the Starbucks we normally see. For a start, there's a fullstop after St. and a capital letter for Arbucks. What a difference punctuation can make! For more perfectly punctuated benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/perfectly-punctuated-benches-for.html
The banana bench was photographed by Matt Green in Gowanus, New York in 2012. Hobo Matt is walking every block of every street in New York City and photographing a lot of great stuff along the way. I wish I had such inspiration available here on Paradise Island. If I were to walk every street in Fribble-under-Par it would take me about three minutes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/imjustwalkin/6849110336/
The Zjedzony banana chair looks good enough to eat and indeed Zjedzony means eaten in Polish. I won't tell Eddie this though as he'll make a fuss about learning Polish. The Zjedzony chair comes from Wamhouse in Poland www.wamhouse.pl Wamhouse was established in 2005 by two people - a graphic designer/photographer and a civil engineer. The company is in Chojnice, a small town in northern Poland which is near the inspirational natural setting of the Bory Tucholskie National Park. Wamhouse creates both interiors and furniture, promoting not only the design and the products, but the region they come from.
Faust and Marguerite in the Garden is by James Tissot (1836-1902), painted in about 1861. It is a feature of all sorts of romantic plays and operas in which Faust makes a pact with the devil; in the German version, Goethe's Marguerite is named Gretchen. Suffice to say, it doesn't work out well for poor Marguerite/Gretchen. (Sorry if I spoiled the plot there.) Tissot was born in France but lived mostly in Britain, where he painted first medieval scenes and then scenes of every day modern life, such as boating on the Thames and sitting on benches. His model was often Mrs. Kathleen Newton, an Irish divorcee who was also his lover. Faust and Marguerite in the Garden is in the public domain due to its age. Like so many brilliant works of art, it's available at http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/james-tissot/faust-and-marguerite-in-the-garden
Satoshi Itasaka's Balloon Bench appeared in the Benchsite of Japanese benches in spring 2013. The Red Balloon bench is an item made according to the customer's specifications at Studio h220430 in Tokyo. The photographer is Ikunori Yamamoto at http://www.h220430.jp For every project the studio arranges the color, quantities, setting positions of balloons, length of the rope, and fabric materials of the seat according to customer's request or the space that bench will be fixed in. The balloon bench shown is in a restaurant in France . Materials are glass fiber reinforced plastics, stainless steel wire, and leather. The standard price is 2,100,000JPY and retailers are Gallery SOMEWHERE in Tokyo .
The organization A Red Bench is, not surprisingly, at www.aredbench.com. Here you will see the aims of the organisation and the quotation from University of Texas Professor, Dr. Betty Sue Flowers, whose idea was that the red bench is a symbol of a place for conversations that 'cultivate peace and respect.'
The row of red benches on a ship is a photograph by Al Mare, taken in 2008. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benches.jpg?uselang=en-gb
Juliana Gatto from Pompano Beach, Florida is the owner/photographer of AnchorMySoul Photography at www.etsy.com/shop/AnchorMySoul She prefers black and white film - the tranquility of the dark room speaks to her - but unfortunately, dark rooms, and the time to spend in them, are hard to come by. As a result, she has found herself diving head first into the new digital world and all that comes with it. The black and white photo with a red metal bench is from Rochester, where there is an unusual number of interesting benches.
The Interfaith Action of Central Texas logo shows a bright red bench as a place for having Conversations That Matter. http://interfaithtexas.org/rb/. They explain the Red Bench Program, launched in 2009, as a dialogue program centered on moderated small group discussions that are genuinely respectful and safe. No one is expected to be an expert on the topics, but all are invited to share their personal experiences and listen with their hearts.
The high quality recycled wooden bench in Austin, Texas was seen at http://krrb.com/ in February 2013.
The Memphis Noodle Star diner was photographed by Memphis CVB, who likes to capture all the food and things and people that make Memphis awesome. Indeed, Memphis CVB's other name is ilovememphis and the photos make it easy to see why. Try 365 Things to Do in Memphis. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovememphis/
The Burger King pseudo 1950s diner is in Newmarket, Auckland City, New Zealand. It was photographed anonymously in 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burger_King,_Pseudo_1950s_American_Diner.jpg I don't know if the benches are red or pink but you can see 50 Shades of Pink at
Frank Willems describes himself as 'a designer with a passion for adventure'. http://www.frankwillems.net/ A graphic designer by training, he has a degree in advertising and presentation techniques and a specialisation from the Design Academy in Eindhoven. His amazing sliding bench and his Madam Rubens both appeared previously in the Benchsite Alphabet of Dutch Benches
The Family Dollar bench was photographed by teacher Gerry Dencher in 2012. It's outside the Family Dollar store in Carlie C's Plaza on Main Street in Hope Mills, North Carolina where he lives. His sets include lots of nostalgic photos of small town life in the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and elsewhere. Some of them are reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrydincher/
Felixstowe rail station in the UK was photographed by Geof Sheppard in 2012. Geof loves trains, bridges, tracks, stations, and yes, benches. He has more than 3,000 photos at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2012_at_Felixstowe_station_-_circulating_area.jpg
The jam thing is quite complicated. The logo Red Bench Jam seems to refer to music jam sessions, although it is described as current news, events and happenings, recipes and serving suggestions for the most delectable jams you have ever tasted. I'm pretty sure they mean music jams though. http://redbenchjam.blogspot.co.uk/
On the other hand, Red Bench Jam, in Rupert, Vermont, actually makes and sells jam of the edible variety. Ross, creator of Red Bench Jams, does demonstrations, with samples of his jamtastic jams. I like the sound of Strawberry Habanero, which you eat on a cracker with Vermont cheddar or cream cheese for a spicy kick. Apparently Ross's jams will convince you that jam is not just for toast. http://www.vermontspecialtyfoods.org/member.php/lid/255
The red balls were photographed in London's Serpentine Gallery in 2007. The photographer is David Hawgood, who explains that the red balls can be rolled around the floor of the pavilion by visitors. The matching red cushions are on seats for spectators or café patrons. The pavilion design is a collaboration between artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Kjetil Thorsen at http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2007/01/serpentine_gallery_pavilion_20_7.html . I saw this work on David Hawgood's Geograph post at
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spectator_seating_and_play_balls,_Serpentine_Gallery_pavilion_2007_-_geograph.org.uk_-_593145.jpg
Andres Martin's etsy shop is Typography Tourist, where there are inspirational and motivational quotes on wall art posters suitable for framing. One of them is a Polish idiom which has become very popular: Nie mój cyrk, nie moje malpy. Not my circus, not my monkey. In other words, not my problem.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TypographyTourist
Former president Barrack Obama was going over notes in the Red Room prior to a Live Prime Time Press Conference in the East Room of the White House on March 24, 2009. The photo was taken by Pete Souza and is an Official White House Photo from the official Whitehouse Photostream athttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spectator_seating_and_play_balls,_Serpentine_Gallery_pavilion_2007_-_geograph.org.uk_-_593145.jpg
Andres Martin's etsy shop is Typography Tourist, where there are inspirational and motivational quotes on wall art posters suitable for framing. One of them is a Polish idiom which has become very popular: Nie mój cyrk, nie moje malpy. Not my circus, not my monkey. In other words, not my problem.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TypographyTourist
Fifi Flowers lives in Los Angeles but clearly her heart is in her daydream city - Paris. She paints colourful whimsy and fun with a Parisian flair. Her gallery shows bright and vibrant paintings of Montmartre, champagne, landscapes, interiors and all Paris life. Her first novel, A Window to Love, is also set in Paris. http://www.fififlowers.com/ Her art shop is at www.etsy.com/shop/fififlowers
Moore Designs is a collaboration between husband and wife team Kim and Alex Moore in West Sussex. Metalsmith Alex Moore makes beautiful contemporary outdoor furniture such as curved metal benches from marine grade stainless steel. The benches are polished or powder- coated for hard wear and come in different colours, including orange. Besides the circular bench and the low backed curved metal bench shown here, Moore Designs make garden obelisks and a variety of accessories and gifts. www.mooredesigns.co.uk
What does Ruben Ras make from lego? Anything. Creatures, vehicles, people, spaceships, pubs, steampunk, modular houses and, more to the point, Salvador Dali's Mae West Lips Bench. Ruben is a primary school teacher who works from the heart at his home in Urk in the Netherlands. He's in Lego Dutchies, Lego Freaks, and other appreciative Flickr Lego groups
http://www.flickr.com/photos/workfromtheheart/
If you haven't seen enough coloured benches you might enjoy some bright orange ones or some sunny yellow ones. Or some romantic white ones. You might like silver and gold ones or some manic Black Friday ones. And if that's not enough, there are some very, very depressing blue ones for Blue Monday.
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