Young artists in the Lawrence arts organization Van Go will soon unveil 20 custom benches they designed and painted.
Each Van Go Summer JAMS Apprentice Artist is paired with a client — a local business, organization or individual commissioning a bench for their building or to honor a loved one. At an annual ceremony, clients get a first glance at their commissioned benches after a countdown.
The ceremony this year is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 at Van Go, 715 New Jersey St. It’s free to attend, and doors open at 5:15 p.m.
Van Go is also a nonprofit social service and employment agency for Douglas County youth. The Benchmark program at Van Go is held each summer for ages 14 to 18.
Van Go artists in the past 25 years have produced nearly 500 benches that are sprinkled throughout Lawrence and Douglas County and found homes in Seattle, North Carolina and other states. In 2023, apprentice artist Davon Davis created the first to be sent to a client outside of the United States.
Thialand Morris-Tucker, senior student and JAMS apprentice artist, said working in the Pre-Employment Preparation Program promoted self-confidence.
“I applied for the program when I realized that Van Go wasn’t just a place for people to do art,” Morris-Tucker said in a news release. “It was a place for people to grow into something better, to learn about life skills that can assist them in the future, and to make friends who are also expressive just like me.”
Read about last year’s Benchmark unveiling and see photos in this article. Learn more about Van Go and its Benchmark program at van-go.org.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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