August 9, 2024
Artists

New artist’s bench on Noyes springs from reclaimed car parts


Workman holding coffee cup sitting on odd bench on porch
Nate Rosalie, the creator of this bench he calls “The Back Seat of My Ride” Credit: Nate Rosalie

Another artist-made bench has appeared in the second floor public art gallery at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St.

This one is a two-seater and is altogether strange, funny and ingenious. It is made from old car parts and even older wood, by artist-contractor Nate Rosalie, of Evanston.

Odd bench in contractor's workshop
The almost completed bench in Rosalie’s workshop Credit: Nate Rosalie

A QR code mounted on the wall above the bench leads to a blog that explains in narrative detail the creation of this new seating addition.

The artist owned an old 1963 Corvair coupe from which he saved the suspension he used. The seat is made of 100 year-old lumber. Shock absorbers support the bench armrests.

smiling man holding knob and box
Alex Theis, Program Coordinator for Evanston’s Parks & Rec Dept., holding a knob from a gear shift Credit: Gay Riseborough

Alex Theis, Program Coordinator for the Evanston Parks & Recreation Department, initiated the “Please Be Seated” program last winter. The donated artist’s benches become part of the Noyes permanent collection. Theis is thinking of putting a small addition on Rosalie’s bench armrests – of course, he will need the artist’s permission.

There are size and strength specifications for the new benches. All are on the application form, available here.


Gay Riseborough is an artist, has served the City of Evanston for 15 years on arts committees, and is now an arts writer at the Evanston RoundTable.
More by Gay Riseborough



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