This functional art bench was the successful winner of a public art competition hosted by the Woodlands Park Arts Council in Texas, USA. The bench location informed the design as it is located beside a pond on an inland waterway.
The sculptural bench is composed of the groupings of lily pad seats authentically supported by water grasses with several lily flowers complementing the arrangements. The Texas Dawn Water Lily was designated as the official water lily of Texas in 2011.
The artistic choice of a water lily is intentional as a strong conveyance of nature at its finest – blending beauty with function while drawing attention to the daily interaction with our contemporary urban landscape. Water lilies are strong symbols of interdependence, cycles of life, and our stewardship or exploitation of lands and waters. Our relationships with the natural world are reflected by their status and health. Water lilies are considered by many to be the jewels of the pond for not only do they contribute beauty but they serve many purposes to enhance the overall ecosystem. They capture sunlight to provide photosynthesis for the submerged parts of the plant, they block light which inhibits algae growth and preserves the oxygen content of the water, they are a vital habitat for many animals and insects providing safety on their surface from underwater predators, and in high heat they provide shade and cooler temperatures for underwater species. Along with their graceful compositional form, these intrinsic ‘community’ functions are wonderful symbols of what is possible.
