New Directions For WC Artist's Recycled Art

Colin Selig — Walnut Creek's propane bench artist (OK, his specialty defies a short title) — has added another award to his portfolio.

A Selig bench copped "Most Interesting Product" at the annual conference of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Seattle.

A lifelong metal worker, Selig is an artistic recycler. He repurposes discard propane tanks and converts them to benches to grace indoor or outdoor spaces.

"Since my work is blend between art and design I am continuing to explore additional channels through which to present it," Selig wrote in an email. He is showing pieces at a Northern California sculpture gallery and he is pursuing patents on certain designs "in anticipation of the possibility of producing certain models in volume."

Earlier this year, Selig benches were on display at the Smithsonian Institution's annual craft show in Washington, D.C. A lavender Selig bench graces the lobby of Walnut Creek City Hall, on loan from the Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts.