EARTHLINKS
Seating for
dialogue



These benches are a serious undertaking to bring the power of the natural world within the realm of everyday, urban living.


These benches are icons of the natural world, constantly reminding us as we sit on them of the natural world's awesome beauty, our place within this beauty, and its necessity in our lives.

Earth Link benches
serve as a kind of Rosetta stone deciphering the forgotten past and reforging old links between culture and Nature; between its diverse peoples and the world they exist in.

Out in the forest, along the jungle path and city boulevard We need to touch wood. Yes, we need to touch wood for in trees is the healing of the world. We need to touch stone. We need Earth icons and altars in our homes to provide a place consecrated to devotional prayer, meditation and talk.

Touch a piece of huon pine where 700 annular rings are visible and one is touching a present ancientness that deserves reverence. Touch a stone, cup it, palm it. The resonant bass voice of the mountain can be felt in this rounded bell-stone shaped by storms, wind, waves and sand.

We need to recognise that not only is the tree or the wood from the tree or the stone placed upon the wood holy, the human who sits upon the bench altar is also holy. For me, there is an urgency to bring the individual back into responsible dialogue with community. The bench is a place of commonness that fosters an exchange between two (apparently) opposing parties.

Benches re-pair in the dual sense of bringing two people together and fixing something to make it work again.As in church pews, benches speak of sharing the same seat, sharing hymn books and sharing talk.

These benches tell a story, and they also help in the telling of a story: our common shared story. A meeting with the bench is both a physical and spiritual event. It is about interpenetrating worlds: the melding of the human body and spirit with those of the tree and stone and whomever else is there.

Sculpture by
Peter M Adams

Roaring Beach
Tasmania
Australia

Peter's CV

Limited Edition 'Forest Bench'


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