Join Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Mayor Cynthia Matthews and artist Terra Dawson to dedicate the final artful reading bench to the City of Santa Cruz to celebrate Bookshop’s 50th Anniversary.

Tuesday, October 25th, 11:00 a.m. in San Lorenzo Park

As a way to say thank you to the community for its support during the last 50 years, Bookshop Santa Cruz is donating three benches to the City of Santa Cruz to create reading spots for kids and families in public playgrounds.  After a comprehensive review and selection process to select three artists and playground locations, the final bench will be dedicated on Tuesday, October 25th at 11am at San Lorenzo Park.

The dedication of this bench takes on additional meaning as it will further the campaign to activate the Riverwalk by bringing more family-friendly features to our precious river area.

Mayor Cynthia Matthews will be joined by City parks and arts staff and local neighbors (especially kids) to get a first look at the bench designed by artist Terra Dawson. Terra Dawson, a UCSC graduate with a certificate in Scientific Illustration from CSUMB, is a naturalist, teacher and illustrator who loves to combine her skills as an artist with her love for nature.  The celebration will include a formal ribbon cutting, an arts project for kids to describe what reading means to them as well as juice and cookies from Pacific Cookie Company.

The first bench, created by artist Bruce Harman, was installed at Grant Street Park in August and the second bench by Denise Davidson was dedicated on September 22nd at Garfield Park. Tom Ralston Concrete created and installed the benches.  As the art process progresses, Bookshop Santa Cruz will be posting updates onhttp://www.bookshopsantacruz. com/artful-reading-benches and through social media.