Benches don’t take back seat at library

The whimsical, colorful pair of benches that enliven the front of the newly renovated Laguna Beach Library were the star attraction on the First Thursday Art Walk, March 1.

A crowd of more than 100 gathered for the dedication of the benches, created by artists Helma Bovenizer and Valerie Gorrell, and to recognize contributors to the renovation of the library and the grounds.

“We don’t usually have so many people at a dedication,” said Nancy Beverage, chair of the Arts Commission, which recommended “Another Perfect Day in Paradise” for the approval of the City Council. “This must be a very popular piece.”

Mayor Toni Iseman welcomed the crowd to the dedication.

“I can’t remember when I have seen so many happy faces,” Iseman said. “It’s the art. It speaks to our lack of pretension and how we know who we are. It’s a perfect piece.”

Councilman Kelly Boyd, former Mayor Wayne Peterson, Assistant City Manager John Pietig and Arts Commissioners Mary Ferguson, Terry Smith, Joan Corman and Jan Sattler were among the city officials who attended the dedication.

Sattler, who instigated the commission’s artist-designed bench program, considers herself the godmother of the city’s newest bench.

“I walked into Valerie’s house for a LOCA [Laguna Outreach for Community Arts] event, and I saw some beautiful benches on her patio,” Sattler said. “I told her she had to enter the contest that was coming up for a bench in front of the library. She thought about it for a while and said no. Then someone introduced Helma to her and she said, ‘I’ll do it with you.’ ”

Bovenizer said Gorrell was the best partner she could have wished for. Gorrell returned the compliment.

Both women thanked the city for supporting artists, and the Friends of the Library for hosting the party in honor of the installation that culminated the broadly supported renovation project, which included repainting the building and re-landscaping the grounds.

“This was a community project,” said Martha Lydick, president of the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library.

On behalf of the Friends, Lydick thanked City Manager Ken Frank and city Parks and Buildings Manager Vic Hillstead for the city’s contribution; the Arts Commission; the Laguna Board of Realtors; Athens Group; Hearts of Montage; landscape planner Steve Kawaratani; donors John and Doris Morrissey; and the Laguna Beach County Water District.

Stepping stones engraved with a tree, a bench and the name of the contributor were commissioned by the Friends and will also be installed.

“The benches are the cherry on the sundae,” Lydick said.