A new public art exhibit – Bench Mark 2025 – was unveiled in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square and the Center on Monday, Sept. 8.

By Ronni Newton

Even before the benches were officially unveiled to launch Bench Mark 2025, they were being put to good use by people strolling through West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square.

“This is community building,” Mayor Shari Cantor said Monday. “It is public art, it is raising money for really good causes, and it brings people together – and we see it right in front of us.”

The benches installed Monday morning, surrounding the Noah Webster statue near the West Hartford Public Library on South Main Street, and in the Webster Walk courtyard of Blue Back Square. Passersby stopped to look at them, some paused for photos, and others sat down to rest or chat.

Bench Mark will bring people to the area to see what’s going on, Cantor said. “And it just solidifies the vibrancy of the community. I’m just so grateful and I look forward to seeing all of them and sitting on all of them for a little bit.”

Tom Hickey, president of 20/20 Media and organizer of Bench Mark 2025, led the tour, and explained that every bench has not only an artist and a sponsor business (or multiple businesses), but also a beneficiary. This year the nonprofit that will benefit from all donations made through the QR code attached to all of the benches is the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce.

“That’s what this is about, lots of people coming together to not only sponsor but to put public outdoor art in place in West Hartford, for everyone to enjoy,” Hickey said Monday.

While each bench has the same wooden structure, the designs are completely unique, many incorporating whimsy and some with deep meaning. Many of the designs extend to the backs of the benches as well.

Several of the artists – Kelly Kelly and Lauren Castro – were in attendance at the unveiling, as were some of the sponsors. Chris Conway, the president and CEO of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce – also attended.

Castro is an art teacher at the CREC Montessori Magnet School. She said the bench she painted was a “labor of love. This one truly comes straight from the heart.”

Castro said she dedicated the bench to “all those surviving and all those fighting cancer of all types, and of course to honor the taken.” It’s a peaceful garden scene on the front, and a midnight starry-night-inspired scene on the back, and incorporates portraits of actual families in the design.”

Kelly, who previously participated in the West Hartford “Dog Walk” public art exhibit in 2022, designed and painted seven of the benches. Two that have been placed along South Main Street are flag-inspired – the American flag and the Pride flag. “They bring community together, with Pride and America, just to make everything all-inclusive,” she said.

Kelly is known for incorporating mosaics into her artwork, and several of her other benches do have mosaics, including a beach-themed bench next to Fleming’s that has sea glass, and a “Be Community Kind” sunshine-themed bench in the courtyard.

The Hartford HealthCare bench has a special feature: solar lighting. Hidden panels collect the sun’s energy during the day, and the bench will glow after dark.

Twelve of the 13 benches were on display by midday Monday. One more bench – painted by Sam Ferri – will be added to the collection at a slightly later date. As of Monday the paint was still tacky, and organizers didn’t want to damage the design, or people’s clothing, by putting it in place before it is completely dry.

Bench Mark 2025 will remain in place through Oct. 22, Hickey said, and are scheduled to be removed prior to the Halloween Stroll. After that the benches will be auctioned off, with details to be announced.

A complete list of artists and sponsors can be found below.

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