Young artists of Van Go unveiled 20 custom-designed benches Friday evening, showcasing weeks of work in the nonprofit’s summer JAMS employment program.
The unveiling, held at Van Go, 715 New Jersey St., drew a crowd of more than 200 people to celebrate the apprentice artists and their collaboration with community clients.
Each bench was designed and built over an eight-week session by one of 20 artists ages 14 to 18 who worked directly with clients to develop concepts, refine designs and execute the final pieces.
“There’s generally not a theme because every bench is as special as the client is,” said Rick Wright, Van Go’s art director. “We allow our artists to explore, so that they really meet their clients’ needs.”
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The program emphasizes both artistic development and job readiness. According to employment services director Emma Givens, participants this summer achieved a 98% attendance rate and a 95% punctuality rate, reflecting the program’s focus on workplace skills.
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For the artists, the experience was as much about personal growth as it was about the finished benches.
Ayo Beason said the program helped her grow more confident, more responsible and more comfortable with talking to new people. She called it her best job experience.
Another artist, Mya Buie, said the experience helped her grow more confident, more comfortable meeting people and more confident in her artwork.
“Van Go has helped me feel more confident in my ability to be successful while moving into adulthood,” Buie said.
Many of the benches carry personal or memorial significance, with designs honoring loved ones, community organizations and local businesses.
Kamilla Ochoa, a returning apprentice artist entering her junior year of high school, created a memorial bench honoring Connor Thellman. She said the project was more challenging than a personal bench, but also more meaningful.
“I feel like it gives more depth to it, more personality,” Ochoa said.
For Thellman’s family, the project offered a deeply emotional way to remember him.
“It’s bittersweet because our son just died this year, so it’s very fresh,” Nancy Thellman, Connor’s mother, said. “But what a beautiful way to remember him and also meet a beautiful young person.”
Other artists drew inspiration from a wide range of themes.
Stevie Pfeiffer designed a bench for Owens Flower Shop incorporating employees’ favorite flowers and detailed insect illustrations. She said the project was especially rewarding because she loves to make people happy.
Mateo Sanmiguel created a memorial bench for Christopher Carlson, a percussionist who volunteered with Family Promise. Sanmiguel said he wanted to make something that reflected the power of music and Carlson’s legacy.
“I wanted something impactful, something that people can look at and really understand how powerful music is,” Sanmiguel said.
Lilly Thyssen created a piece for Douglas County Juvenile Court using bright, varied colors to reflect diverse experiences.
“I wanted something that could represent all of them,” Thyssen said. “When you put skin colors, that kind of limits it.”
Several benches will stay in Lawrence and others will be installed elsewhere, including one by Beason that will be placed at Camp Chippewa in Minnesota honoring Kyle Duncan.
“I hope the people up in camp and his family and those who knew him will see that bench and appreciate it,” Beason said.
Van Go has produced hundreds of benches through the program over nearly three decades, with many installed throughout Douglas County and beyond.
The benches unveiled Friday will be sent off for their clear coat this week and then will be on display at Van Go for approximately two weeks before being delivered to their permanent locations.
Here’s the complete list of artists and their clients, as provided by Van Go:
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
Nathan Kramer (he/him), a multimedia student journalist for The Lawrence Times since August 2024, is a recent graduate of Free State High School. He also served as a news photo editor for Free State’s student publication, where he worked as a videographer, photographer and motion designer. See more of his work for the Times here.
