Bench Art & Public Commissions
'Creating a sense of place'
Benchart is a professional partnership of two ceramic artists with a wealth of experience in the field of ceramic art and public sculpture. Established by Ruth Gibson and Huw Powell Roberts in 2005, Benchart has successfully delivered arts projects throughout Shropshire and Telford and has been funded and commissioned by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, Shropshire Council, HLF and Arts Council England. Their inception project Benchart Cross Houses was cited as exemplar arts practice in Shropshire Council’s arts strategy document. They have continued to design and build high quality sculptures and deliver exceptional ceramic workshops in schools and to the wider community.
The work predominantly involves the creation of outdoor public sculptures, designing and making benches, shelters and sculptures from carved brick often inlaid with ceramic tiles and reclaimed materials. These projects involve the community and or schools who are engaged through workshops to make ceramic elements which are incorporated into the public artworks. We have strong links with the brick industry and have been supported by Ibstock Bricks and Blockleys in Telford.
Benchart also design and create cob Earth Ovens. This involves recycling the waste brick clay from carving sculptures, mixed with sand and soil, sawdust and straw, to create cob, a natural and traditional building material. The beautiful pizza ovens are created in situ and are unique sculptures, as well as being functional ovens. We can build these to commission or work with a community group to create a shared experience and central focus to an outdoor eating space. Ruth divides her time between Benchart and her own studio based ceramic practice, exhibiting both Nationally and Internationally.
Aims and Objectives
- Benchart design and create unique sculptures which are functional, engaging and visually striking
- Our work sits in place in the landscape; we reference local history and vernacular to link past and present
- Principally ceramic based, our work incorporates carved brick, mosaics, lettering, printing in combination with other materials such as wood, steel, slate, stone and glass.
- We are experienced in engaging with community groups and schools offering opportunities to be directly involved in the creative process.
- Private tuition and ceramic workshops offered
- Private and public commissions are welcomed
TESTIMONIALS
I think that just about every other village in Shropshire and further a field will be very jealous of the bus shelters, the central village bench and the two hand carved wooden benches of Cross Houses! All of them are innovative in design and very attractive and yet totally in keeping with the architecture and the feel of the village. How much better it is to have non-standard constructions rather than the stark and unfriendly utilitarian structures usually associated with public transport buildings and seating areas. There is warmth, feeling and great design in the shelters and the seats and there is the added bonus that they include recycled items from the old hospital. In my view we are extremely lucky to have been blessed by the Benchart project and to have had the skills and dedication of Ruth Gibson and Huw Powell Roberts on hand to bring these structures to life. I hope that everyone in the village will share in the care and maintenance of the shelters and the benches so that we can all enjoy them for many years to come.
J Hawkey, Holcroft Way.
Having lived in either Bridgnorth or Shrewsbury for 40 years I have regularly passed through Cross Houses and always enjoyed to see a small group of gentlemen chatting and watching the world go by from 'their' bench. I imagined them putting the world to rights and though the weather never seemed much of a deterent, I would be dissapointed if they weren't there. For some time now I have watched with interest, as I'm sure they have too, the construction of the two new seating shelters. I very much like what I see. I think the brick colours and timber used are very much in keeping with the area and find the shelter designs interesting yet not intrusive. Now complete, I am pleased to see both in good use just like the old boys bench was and imagine the lovely tactile black picture tiles make a frequent topic of conversation to those who sit there. In the beautiful Shropshire landscape so often spoilt with modern, seemingly ill considered design, its really great to see something new yet sympathetic to our heritage and surrounding nature, while at the same time serving a useful function. Long may such projects continue!
