About the Artist: Cheryl Anne Lorance
Cheryl Anne Lorance is an American Sculptor, illustrator, and goldsmith. She graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She then completed her Master’s from Ball State with a thesis on Bronze patination. She sculpted the benches that you see along the Riley Arts Trail. Some come along and explore each of her benches and the meanings behind them!
Bench 1: We Must Get Home
Cheryl Anne chose this poem based on its personal nostalgia. In it, Riley is nostalgic for his home in Greenfield, and she wanted to use it to inspire visitors on the trail to understand why this city held a fond spot in his heart. This was, as Riley himself described, “the greatest place outside of heaven”. She has added the candle to the bench to represent the light leading the way home, and the book that says time on it to represent his wanting to step back into his childhood days. Lockerbie, his pet poodle, is also on the bench, representing his home in Indianapolis. This bench transports the viewer back to a simpler time of childhood.
Bench 2: The Old Swimmin’ Hole
On this bench, Cheryl Anne wanted to invoke feelings of summer and going for a swim. She recreated water scenes based on the Old Swimmin Hole, which was located along Brandywine Creek in Greenfield. This is where Riley would have gone and swum with other local boys during his youth. She has added a frog near the water with a railroad in the background to represent what the swimming hole would have looked like from a young child’s perspective, as they would have looked up from where they were swimming.
Bench 3: When the Frost is on the Punkin
This poem is one of Cheryl Anne’s favorites. She included apples that were gathered on the cellar floor. She made sure to carve deeper and deeper to make it look like you are sitting in the cellar looking towards the entrance. This requires multiple layers in the process.
Bench 4: Days Gone By
In days gone by, Cheryl Anne wanted to portray the nostalgic feeling that Riley felt for his hometown. When Riley was a boy, Greenfield was still a very rural town. He would often see cows drinking at local streams and being lazy on a summer day. Those lazy summer days inspired Riley to use his imagination like he would have when he was little, and you are adventuring and playing. He includes in days gone by the image of a child and their dog exploring and finding adventures, such as Aladdin and the lamp. Cheryl Anne uses this imagery in this bench.
Bench 5: An Old Sweetheart of Mine
This one is like looking back at your youth from the winter of your old age. It is something that everyone can relate to. Because of this, Cheryl Anne chose it to be the theme of one of her benches. She also included the fantasy element of the poem by carving a fairy garden spot into the bench as well. Cheryl Anne even included a dapper Rat in his top hat as a symbol of the Riley Arts Trail (RAT).
Bench 6: The Raggedy Man
This poem is another one of Cheryl Anne’s favorites. She likes the different imagery in the poem that talks about giants, griffins, and elves. It is an easy poem to bring to life. She drew on Riley’s imagination to bring to life those mythical creatures, as well as some real-life things like the little wobbly calf. The wobbly calf was one of the favorite images on this particular bench.
Bench 7: Little Orphant Annie
This one was an easy inspiration for Cheryl Anne. With its mention of the goblins that will get you if you don’t watch out, she carved them to make sure that visitors on the trail stay on track!
Bench 8: Wet Weather Talk
This one, Cheryl Anne, used imagery like the farmer’s almanac, coffee, umbrellas, and someone grumbling at the weather to represent this poem. It can relate to the average person because sometimes everyone has that day where nothing seems to be going according to plan, but we need to remember that even these days are important.
Bench 9: Out to Old Aunt Mary’s
Out to Old Aunt Mary’s reminded Cheryl Anne of the days when you would go to your relatives and prepare for a celebration. There are pies, recipes scattered around, jugs, and cooking utensils. It is supposed to invoke the feeling of being welcomed and finding home.
Bench 10: Granny’s Come to Our House
This bench includes fun visuals and was a fun challenge for Cheryl Anne as she was carving it. She found inspiration for this bench in the mentions of fairy tales. The poem mentions “Jack the Giant Killer” and his journey up the beanstalk. And she also included a little mouse on the bench as well, which is a nod to the Riley Arts Trail.