Madeline Stout Neighborhood Bench Project

TITLE: Madeline Stout Neighborhood Bench Project
ARTIST: Madeline Stout
DATE: 2023
TYPE: Mural
MEDIUM: Paint
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ABOUT: The Midland Area Community Foundation selected fourteen artists to paint twelve benches and 2 picnic tables and transform them into usable murals in a move to beautify the downtown space and give the community an artistic voice. Artist Madeline Stout gave an artist statement for the project, ​"​My name is Madeline Stout and art is the best. I LOVE drawing, clay, digital art, and making things up.

I chose nature as my topic for the bench because there are many pieces of nature in Midland County. I know nature is important in Midland’s culture because we have Dow Gardens, Whiting Forest, the Chippewa Nature Center, City Forest, lots of flowers Downtown, Midland Blooms, and many parks and forests.

On the front of the seat, I put a quote from Gary Snyder, “Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” I like this quote because all the things I listed above are part of my home, Midland, which makes this quote true. I also included pine trees, mushrooms, wildflowers, an owl, a squirrel, and birds. You can find all of these things in Midland. Nature is great because being outside is good for you. The sun makes you happier, and if you’re happier you can do better things for people."


(Note: Allison was 9.5 at the time of this project)
 

LOCATION: Joyful Tantrum Recess, 4000 Jefferson Ave., Midland MI, 48642