Art lovers can take a seat Downtown, Yazzy's at www.williamverdult.com

According to Jenna Nielsen, of the Aubun Journal, Residents and visitors browsing around Old Town and Downtown will soon have a pretty place to sit.

The Auburn Arts Commission announced a new plan this week for garden benches to be placed around the city, each containing a different and unique painting.

Arts commissioners have said the Auburn Area Woodcrafters Guild has volunteered to manufacture them at no cost to the city. Local artists will then paint them.

Local businesses will sponsor the bench program and in return will be able to display the bench for three months. The benches will then be auctioned off at an upcoming PlacerArts Art Walk and the money will be used for future art projects.

The Art Walk is held the second Thursday in April, June, August and October and showcases artists who display their work in participating Auburn businesses.

Auburn artist Everett Jensen painted a prototype that is currently being displayed in the lobby of City Hall.

Jensen is also a member of the Auburn Arts Commission.

"I think the benches are a great idea," Jensen said. "It is something that would be really usable and would encourage people to walk."

Jensen decide to paint water lilies on the prototype after he and his wife, Betty, toured a few gardens.

"A lot of cities are fixing up their downtowns in the same sense we are here," Jensen said. "We wanted to do something that would functional and that people could also really enjoy."

Louise Gilbert, chairwoman of the Auburn Arts Commission said the idea was a result of the commission's decision to work on the Auburn Streetscape Project.

The Streetscape plan is an extension of an existing city of Auburn redevelopment project that has grown to more than 480 acres, and includes widened sidewalks, trees, lighting and outdoor dining areas.

The benches are expected to pop up in front of Auburn businesses next spring.