FARMINGTON – A bench dedicated to dogs is ornamented with wooden dog bone sculptures and bright red fire hydrant legs. Another bench sports a forest fire prevention motif, with wood-carved orange flames spiking up from its back.

Other benches in the collection show sunsets, moonlit nights and four seasons of leisure activities. They are a few of the nine art benches created by Mt. Blue Middle School students in the Foothills Learning through the Arts After-School Program.

Local wood artisans Charlie Bennett, Mike Maxey, Dick Minear, Mike Monahan and Mark Prentiss assisted the students in the design and construction of their benches.

The benches tell stories about where residents work, live and play – the Western Mountains of Maine.

The students are hoping for a good turnout at their community bench exhibit from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at the Mt. Blue Middle School cafeteria, Middle Street. Those attending can drive around to the parking lot behind the school and enter the cafeteria from that rear entrance.

For the first half hour, the seventh- and eighth-graders will introduce their benches. Then the exhibit will be open and people can socialize and have refreshments.

Everyone in attendance will fill out a bench place suggestion sheet to give the students ideas on where their benches will be placed. The 31 students will give a bench to each of the nine towns in SAD 9.

Foothills Learning through the Arts is presented by the Foothills Arts Center and SAD 9 and funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. For more information, contact Director Anne Geller or Assistant Director Debbi Hiltz at 778-0448 or info@foothillsarts.org.

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