Benches 2009

	Title – Yabba Dabba Doo Artist – Nick Schulien Sponsor – St. George Catholic Church in Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary Location – Zabrocki Plaza, South Side Flintstone’s fans of all ages will enjoy watching Dino’s head rise through the car roof as the handle is turned on the back of the bench. Nick is a dedicated, fifth-year bench artist who never fails to surprise all with his imagination. He is also a retired art teacher and long time resident of Tinley Park

Title – What’s Up Doc? Artist – Val Fischer & Morgan Kelly Sponsor – Aero Rubber Company Location – Zabrocki Plaza, North Side Val’s inspiration for the Bugs Bunny and Friends bench came from the Saturday morning cartoons of yesteryear. He is a 30-year Tinley Park resident and a self-employed artist. Morgan is 13 years old and a third year Benches on the Avenue artist.

	Title – Peanuts Artist – Jaclyn Robbins Sponsor – Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center Location – 17313 S. Oak Park Avenue Memories of Snoopy and Charlie Brown are recreated on this enjoyable bench. Jaclyn lives in Tinley Park and is a graduate of Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She currently works as an exhibition coordinator, and helps display activism for human rights through art.

Title – Love is All Around: Mary Tyler Moore Artist – Lefie Lindokken Location – 17255 S. Oak Park Avenue The front of this bench portrays Mary in her famous hat-throwing stance. This popular 1970’s TV show featured the first ever independent working woman as its main character. Lefie is a 16-year old high school student and six-time, committed Benches on the Avenue artist.

	Title – Meet the Jetsons Artist – Marty Rose & Don Zak Sponsor – Robinson Engineering/Klein Thorpe & Jenkins Location – 17225 S. Oak Park Avenue The artists recreated the futuristic Jetson family cruising around in their jet cars among the skyscape. This favorite series gave us a peak into the future. Marty and Don are neighbors who have collaborated on the bench project since 2006. Don provided the technical expertise for the solar lighting for the bench.

Title – The Royal Goose Artist – Marty Rose Sponsor – Cardinal Fitness/Donlin Builders Location – 17217 S. Oak Park Avenue Spend some time revisiting Garfield Goose and Friends at home in the Royal Castle. This popular TV show was a classic of the 60’s in Chicago. Marty has been a loyal Benches on the Avenue artist since the project’s inception in 2004.

	Title – The Muppet Show Artist – Jennifer Lilly Sponsor – Tinley Park-Park District Location – 17236 S. Oak Park Avenue Who can resist those soft and colorful Muppet characters? This show has endured time – pleasing children both old and young. Jennifer resides in a neighboring community with her husband and two children. A fourth year bench artist, she enjoys working on the benches because it pushes the limits of her creativity.

Title – The Dynamic Duo Artist – Nick Schulien and Jennifer Lilly Sponsor – Mack Industries Location – 17244 S. Oak Park Avenue Batman, the true protector of Gotham, and his partner, take care of the “vigilantes” like the Joker, Riddler and the Penguin, among others. Nick worked on set design and construction for many years and enjoys the challenge of creating benches. His daughter, Jennifer collaborated with Nick on the Batman bench.

	Title – “Ruh-Roh!” Artist – Suzanne Bushno Sponsor – Ed & Joe’s Restaurant Location – 17314 S. Oak Park Avenue This bench depicts our favorite dog, Scooby Doo, who took center stage in the cartoon series, always coming out a winner for finding the bad guys with a little help from his friends. Suzanne is a new bench artist this year. She has worked in the medical field for 21 years, but being an artist is her passion.

Title – Tom & Jerry…and Spike Artist – Nick Schulien Sponsor – James B. Carroll & Associates Location - 17332 S. Oak Park Avenue These favorite cartoon characters are friends and adversaries, always finding themselves in predicaments. Though Tom tries over and over to catch Jerry, he is always stopped by a surprise, such as unfriendly and cat-hating Spike. Nick is a retired art teacher and long-time resident of Tinley Park

	Title – Moving Ahead as Thomas the Tank Engine Artist – Easter Seals Therapeutic Autism School & Oaks Construction Services of Hazelcrest, IL Sponsor – Gatto’s Restaurant and Bar Location – Oak Park Avenue & Hickory Street This bench was completed by students of Easter Seals Autism School and was designed and supervised by Holly DeRosa, Art Therapist. The heads of the trains were left open for children to put there heads in. Research suggests that the interactive quality of placing a human head where the train’s head would be could possibly help engage children with autism to look at the faces of their friends.

Title – Gilligan’s Island Artist – Jennifer Lilly Sponsor – Crossmark Printing, Inc. Location – 17424 S. Oak Park Avenue “Just sit right back and you will hear a tale - a tale of a fateful trip that started from a tropic port aboard this tiny ship.” This colorful depiction of Gilligan’s Island calls to mind the TV series so many of us enjoyed as children. Jennifer is a talented, fourth year bench artist who holds a Bachelors Degree in Illustration.

	Title – “I Yam What I Am” Artist – Beau & Bladen Saunoris Location – 17432 S. Oak Park Avenue A colorful illustration, this bench portrays Popeye gaining strength by eating his healthy spinach. The artists – Beau (age nine) and Bladen (age seven), were supervised by their mother, a local artist. They attend school in Tinley Park and enjoy all sports, art and especially spinach.

Title – The Last Frontier – Star Trek Artist – Roger W. Gerencir Sponsor – Apple Chevrolet Location – 17500 S. Oak Park Avenue The most famous Starship Enterprise is represented in flight through the universe among many different worlds. The back of the bench illustrates a shuttlecraft from the Enterprise. Roger is a fourth-year bench artist and retired high school art teacher who resides in Joliet.

	Title – Kukla & Ollie Artist – Roger W. Gerencir Location – 17514 S. Oak Park Avenue This incredibly popular puppet show was created for children in the late 40’s and 50’s, but was also enjoyed by adults. Kukla & Ollie are illustrated on the front of the bench, along with Buelah Witch and Madame Ooglepuss. Roger received a Bachelors degree from Illinois State University and Masters Degree from National Louis University.

Title – “Catches Thieves Just Like Flies” Artist – Andrew Welch Location – 17501 S. Oak Park Avenue This design is based off of the 1967 Spiderman cartoon known for its memorable opening theme song. The center represents the birth of a legend. Andrew is a first-year bench artist and a consistent fan of Spiderman since early childhood. He resides in Tinley Park.

	Title – Candy Factory Artist – Val Fischer & Morgan Kelly Sponsor – First Midwest Bank Location – 6779 W. 174th Place Lucy and Ethel’s short-lived career as chocolate candy wrappers is commemorated on this “I Love Lucy” bench in an iconic scene which has to be considered as one of the top in classic TV. This is Val’s fifth year as a steadfast bench artist and a mentor to 13-year old Morgan.

Title – Bozo – 40 Years of Fun Artist – Matthew F. McCormick Sponsor – Bettenhausen Dodge Location – 17401 S. Oak Park Avenue Over the course of 40 years, The Bozo Show was the longest running, locally produced show in the history of Chicago television. The Bozo Buckets remind us of how we longed to be a contestant in the “Grand Prize Game”. Matthew is a Chicago Lathing Apprentice and part-time painter, sketcher and artist. He resides in Tinley Park and is a first-year bench artist.
	Title – Classic Puppet Theater Artist – Michele P. Owens Sponsor – McAuliffe PTO 2009 Location – Oak Park Avenue & South Street Paying tribute to the many puppets of Classic TV, this bench incorporates an actual puppet stage that allows the public to put on its own puppet shows. Michele is a professional Visual Artist working in several mediums. Her work has been part of an exhibit recently at the Museum of Science & Industry. She is a first-year bench artist.