AN art museum has unveiled a handcrafted bench which can be used as an outdoor quiet space for visitors to use.

The Munnings Art Museum, in Dedham, commissioned Tim Germain to create the bench in the gardens of the former home of the artist Sir Alfred Munnings.

“The idea for our new bench was first mooted prior to the Covid pandemic affecting the UK and prompting the first lockdown,” said Munnings Art Museum director, Jenny Hand.

“Despite the subsequent lockdowns and the museum having to close as a consequence, local community members, artist advocates and our indefatigable team of volunteers developed the initial designs via Zoom conversations, until they came to fruition in a seat shape inspired by the surrounding landscape of the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley, as so famously painted by John Constable and, of course, Sir Alfred Munnings himself.”

Local furniture maker Tim Germain distilled the various conversations and ideas into a solid design for the seat.

“Tim’s concept for the bench also reflects the simple pleasure of being beside or on the river, as Alfred Munnings often was. To this day, the Stour continues to inspire plein air artists, walkers and canoeists alike,” Jenny added.

Tim made the new bench in his workshop in Stratford St Mary, using oak from storm-felled trees taken from parks in Ipswich.

Germain spent months painstakingly crafting the individual pieces which combine to resemble a particular section of the Stour.

Tim said: “My benches are never straight, as no-one likes chatting over their shoulder.

"I have no idea why nearly all the world’s benches are straight but mine are designed curvy, to draw people in and encourage them to linger longer out of doors.

"And when they are sitting, the alignment of different sitters gently opens up the possibility of a conversation and simply because there is too much loneliness in the world."

For more on Tim Germain’s bench project, click on www.benchproject.co.uk.