CITYarts' volunteers are working with artist Pedro Silva and his son Anthony Silva to restore the Rolling Benches of Grant's Tomb. Over the next three months of July, August, and September 2008, teams will clean the bench, chip away broken tiles, cut and replace tiles, grout, and polish the bench. A brochure that will discuss the 36 year old history of the benches is in the works.
Check out all Photo Galleries Here!
November 12, 2008 Ribbon Cutting
David Blaine performs magic at our ribbon cutting.
Rolling Bench youth volunteers from Columbia Secondary School enjoy magic tricks by David Blaine.
Marc Maffei, Project Coordinator; Kim Llerena, Assistant to the Director; David Blaine, Totally Awesome Magician; Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive and Artistic Director; and Pedro Silva, Artist.
Download Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Program
September 11, 2008 Lunchtime Helpers
Donald Maher (left) and Kevin Duffy (right) chisel tiles during their lunch hour. These guys are extraordinary community developers. They took about 15 of our chisels back to their construction site and hand sharpened all of them. After that, they purchased a special file from a local hardware store and gave instructions for proper tool maintence.
Josia (right) teaches Yori (left) how to chisel broken tiles. Josia and brother Lohan are some of our youngest and most enthusiatic volunteers – spending many hours on the bench.
August 21, 2008 ESPN's Elite 21 Highschool Basketball, Disney Volunt'EARS and YMCA Youth
August 06, 2008 Lehman Brothers Volunteers
August 05, 2008 Goldman Sachs Volunteer
July 25, 2008 Davler Media Volunteers
July 24, 2008 Credit Suisse: "Banking on Volunteers"
Thank you for your great work today! You guys are awesome. Photo gallery coming soon.
Frieda Heldman created the original Dancer Bench (above) in 1972.
July 18, 2008 Making Images
July 17, 2008 Disney Volun'Ears!
Special Thanks to our Disney Volunteers. The photo gallery is coming soon!
July 16, 2008 Individual Mosaics
CITYarts interns and volunteers work to small mosaics.
July 15, 2008 More Chipping and Such
Volunteers work on the bench.
July 12, 2008 First Image Restoration in 36 years!
Korinne Guillen creates a butterfly on a bench.
July 11, 2008 Cementing Continues!
Volunteers James C. and Adhira M. repair the back of a bench.
July 10, 2008 Families Enjoy the Benches!
Families chip and wash the Bench.
Photo: Pedro Silva
July 09, 2008 A Day on the Bench!
Interns and Volunteers prepare the benches for tiling.
Alana Miller, CITYarts Intern, Seth Caplan, CITYarts Intern and Volunteers Joshua, and John lay tiles. Photo: Pedro Silva
Pedro and Tony Discuss the Bench's History.
Joshua, Volunteer, Jordan Taler, CITYarts Creative Coordinator, and Glen Tramantano, CITYarts Intern chip away. Photo: Pedro Silva
July 07, 2008 Repairs Surveyed!
Damages and missing tiles are recorded.
Photo: Pedro Silva
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