Rosenberg Arts Alliance: Enticing Public Art Benches Downtown

I live in Houston, and I have worked as a nurse. My interests include art, traveling, reading, gardening, cooking, and our wonderful pets.

Art can take many forms. Some of it is wearable; some pieces are for viewing only; and in other cases, it is more utilitarian.

In the historic downtown of Rosenberg, we can thank the Rosenberg Arts Alliance for the idea of having artistically painted benches installed throughout a six-block area. People can not only admire them but also use them as resting spots from their daily activities, whether shopping, dining, or doing business.

Rosenberg, Texas

The community of Rosenberg began in the year 1883. Named after Henry von Rosenberg, who was the first president of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, the town was booming by the early 1900s. Shipping on the Brazos River also added to the booming economy at that time.

Be sure to visit the Rosenberg Railroad Museum to learn more about the history of this area and the importance of the railroads in bringing people and jobs to this locale.

Cultural Arts District

The folks in Rosenberg relish the arts. It would be nearly impossible not to notice it if visiting the downtown area, which has the designation of being a Cultural Arts District by the State of Texas.

Sculptures, murals, potted plants, and these artistic benches highlight the historic buildings of the charming downtown locale.

Funding of the Art Benches

The Rosenberg Arts Alliance received a grant for $2,250 from the Anice Read Fund, which helped facilitate some of the painting of these eye-catching benches.

In other cases, people from the community helped to pay for the seats and support the artists who created the images and embellishments upon them. The dedications varied in intent.

Varied Intentions

Several of the art benches are dedicated to loved ones. Promotional material for businesses is apparent in some of these seats. Others merely serve as items of beauty as well as function. Of course, they all serve to accentuate the historic downtown Rosenberg streets.

Missing in Action

We did not spot some of the benches dedicated to this public art project by the Rosenberg Arts Alliance. Perhaps they were being repainted? We saw one such instance first-hand at the Fort Bend Art Center.

The one featured below was on the patio of one of the artist studios. It was going to be refreshed before being reinstalled on a sidewalk outside.

If I spot more of these art benches in the future, I may add the pictures.

Longest Art Bench

This final photo is the largest bench, and it did not have a dedication plaque attached to it. Therefore it may not have been a part of this Rosenberg Arts Alliance 2016 project. But it is a beauty!

Located near a parking lot on 3rd Street across from the Another Time Soda Fountain & Cafe, as well as adjacent to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, it would seat several people.

Are You Inspired?

If you are inspired and wish to paint a bench of your own, find a good quality wooden bench, some outdoor-rated paint, and let your creativity shine!

To learn more about the historic downtown cultural district of Rosenberg and the arts, watch the video below.

Sources:

• Rosenberg, Texas
• Rosenberg Cultural Arts District

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Peggy Woods

Comments

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on July 28, 2020:

Hi Denise,

If you look at the bottom of most of the legs on these benches, they are bolted to the concrete. A few seem not to be, but this is a relatively small town. Perhaps that answers it.

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on July 28, 2020:

What an exciting way to entice the public to sit down and stay awhile. I wonder how they keep thieves from carting one off? Around here they wouldn't be up two days before someone would steal them. Sad but true.

Blessings,

Denise

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on July 07, 2020:

Hi Patricia,

Your daughter seems to be very talented. I hope that she and all her family members are doing well. Sending virtual hugs and love your way today.

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on July 06, 2020:

How clever. My Stef would like to paint ine...she has murals underway in their new place. Another spot I need to visit in Houston!! Once again. dear Angels on the way.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on June 07, 2020:

Hi Manatita,

These artful benches are indeed "interesting and diverse." They give the downtown area a welcoming appearance.

manatita44 from london on June 07, 2020:

Interesting and diverse art benches from this Rosenberg Arts Alliance project. Reminds me of the wonders of God.

In the light of one of their reasons for being there, one for you from the 'hubbie' soon, Peggy? (Sweet chuckle).

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on June 02, 2020:

Hi Robert,

It is such a shame that people with malintent are taking advantage of the righteous marches going on right now across our country after the killing of George Floyd. Defacing monuments, looting, and destroying property has nothing to do with the 1st Amendment to our Constitution.

Robert Sacchi on June 01, 2020:

Glad you live in a city that takes care of its artwork. The WWII Memorial and some other historic monuments in DC got defaced yesterday.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on June 01, 2020:

Hi Robert,

These benches are maintained in good condition. One of them was going to be repainted and is featured in this post. Others that were missing were probably also going to be refreshed.

Robert Sacchi on May 31, 2020:

That's great. In many places they put up nice things but they are often neglected at worst.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 30, 2020:

Hi Robert,

I think that the benches are kept clean by the various stores where they are located. People using them to sit upon would also do some of the job of keeping them dusted off.

Robert Sacchi on May 30, 2020:

Those benches must by lovely to look at. Hopefully, they keep them clean.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 29, 2020:

Hi Ann,

Blending artistry with the advertising of the town or business and serving a function at the same time is brilliant. So glad you liked learning about these public art benches in Rosenberg, Texas.

Ann Carr from SW England on May 29, 2020:

I love these benches, especially the 'enter as strangers, leave as friends' one. It's a great idea, so simple yet effective. There are lots of commemorative benches in various places here but nothing so artistic.

Thanks for bringing them to our attention and telling us the history behind them.

Ann

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 27, 2020:

Hi Adrienne,

Your painted chair sounds beautiful! You should be proud to sit on it! I wish we could see it. Perhaps you could write an article about how you did it?

Adrienne Farricelli on May 27, 2020:

It's so nice to see such a creative touch on these benches in Rosenburg, Texas! I never painted a bench, but once painted a chair with Botticelli's Venus. It looked good, but felt bad to sit on it.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 26, 2020:

Hi Aurelio,

"Texas Boots and Lariat" is a cute bench. Some very creative artists work in that area in and around Rosenberg, Texas.

Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on May 26, 2020:

What an innovative way to promote local artists and to beautify the environment at the same time. My favorite is "Texas Boots and Lariat."

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 17, 2020:

Hi FlourishAnyway,

I think that you are wise to avoid crowds if the coronavirus rates are still high in your area. Your bench can wait a while longer to be painted. Plus it will give your cats more time to inspire you. Ha!

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 17, 2020:

Hi Dora,

Not only does the bench by the title of "Group Therapy" advertise the BR Vino place of business, but it is eye-catching as well. So glad you liked it. (Smile)

FlourishAnyway from USA on May 17, 2020:

I really like these and the fact that they are so utilitarian is wonderful. I have an extra bench sitting in my garage and I just might paint it. I’m going to consult with my cats on a design. I still don’t want to go out with the virus rates being high in my area and I’ve been wanting to refresh the small wooded area in my backyard.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on May 17, 2020:

Great ideas in great art. I like all the colors and the patterns. "Group Therapy" is my comic relief. Great read!

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 16, 2020:

Hi Heidi,

Unlike the cow sculptures (which we have also had in Houston), these benches are not a temporary fundraising project but a permanent fixture in Rosenberg, Texas. Those other cow, hearts, fire hydrants, etc. exhibits are fun to experience. In the case of the cows in Houston, a children's hospital received the proceeds, which were a terrific outcome.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 16, 2020:

Hi Rajan,

These artistic benches do add to the overall ambiance of experiencing downtown Rosenberg. Thanks for your visit and comment.

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on May 16, 2020:

We've had a variety of these types of projects in and around the Chicago area. Some years back, it wasn't benches, it was cows, almost life size cow sculptures in downtown Chicago were painted and decorated. In other towns, it's been big hearts, fire hydrants, etc. It's always interesting to see what people come up with. Thanks for sharing this one from your area!

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on May 15, 2020:

Beautifully painted benches. It would be a treat to walk in the downtown Rosenberg area dotted with artistic sculptures, murals, pots and these painted benches. Thank you for sharing.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 15, 2020:

Hi Linda,

In many of our parks, we also have benches with plaques attached in honor or memory of someone. Some people also have trees planted that have plates in the ground adjacent to the trees for the same reason. I like the idea of memorials like that.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on May 14, 2020:

Painting public benches sounds like a great idea. Where I live, people are able to add a plaque to a bench in remembrance of a loved one who has died. One man has placed plants around the bench dedicated to his wife and tends them carefully, which is lovely to see. He has attached some of the plants to the bench. I think it would be very nice if he was able to paint the bench as well (if he wanted to).The painted benches in your photos are interesting.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 14, 2020:

Hi Rosina,

These colorful benches add much to the appearance of the downtown area in Rosenberg. I am pleased that you liked the idea of painting benches to add color and interest to an environment.

Rosina S Khan on May 14, 2020:

I agree with you, Peggy, painting a good quality bench with outdoor-rated paint will surly let our creative juices flow and let us have a great time during the pandemic. I am glad Rosenberg Arts Alliance and others have artistically-painted benches in the downtown, which show varied forms of creativity. Thanks for sharing.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 13, 2020:

Hi Ruby,

Painting a wooden bench would be a good project during the pandemic keeping many of us at home. Too bad, you did not keep yours. That would have kept you busy for a while. Deciding what to paint would have been part of the fun.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 13, 2020:

Hi Mary,

Yes, an outdoor art gallery that might entice people to enter the different stores and restaurants.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 13, 2020:

Hi Pamela,

These art benches in Rosenberg added to the ambiance of their pretty downtown area.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 13, 2020:

Hi Liz,

I agree that these are more inviting than just the plain park benches. They serve double-duty as functional art.

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on May 13, 2020:

I wish I'd kept an old bench I had when I moved. I would paint it while housebound. All the benches were nice, I esp. liked the one with stars. All towns should have benches, not only are they beautiful, they invite people to stop and visit.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on May 13, 2020:

What a beautiful idea. It is an outdoor art gallery.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on May 13, 2020:

I like those painted benchs and have not seen them before. It really dresses up the area as the benches are beautiful.

Liz Westwood from UK on May 13, 2020:

What a great idea. These benches look so much nicer and more colourful than the standard park benches we have in the UK.

Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 13, 2020:

Hi Bill,

It is not only eye-catching but serviceable as well to have these public art benches in downtown areas. Nice to know that Olympia has also done this.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on May 13, 2020:

They did the same thing here in Olympia. It is quite nice and appealing, I think. I think all cities should do that to beautify the downtown area in little increments.