Bench People: An Artist Finds Connection in Stuyvesant Square
By Max Lockwood, SPNA
A park bench can be a place to read, share a meal, make art, or meet someone new. For Sebastian Jaime Marciano, the artist known as Rawky Marcy, these everyday uses became the subject of “Bench People.”
Sebastian grew up in Stuyvesant Town and walked through Stuyvesant Square with his father on his way to school. I met him on a park bench, where a conversation led to this interview about his artwork, his neighborhood, and the places that bring us together.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What was your connection to Stuyvesant Square growing up?
I grew up in Stuyvesant Town with my parents and brother. Starting in seventh grade, I took public transportation to school. Every day, my father walked with me from our house to Union Square, and we walked through Stuyvesant Park.
We always admired the plants in the park, especially around the central fountain. The flowers are always so lovely.
How did “Bench People” come about?
I saw an inquiry on Instagram asking if any local artists could help with a logo. I reached out, and the person requesting the logo agreed to give me full creative freedom.
I knew I wanted to make a piece that advocates for free, equitable access to public space. I depicted four possible uses for the same bench: a person reading, a person with a cane sitting, a young person lying down and playing with a basketball, and a parent and child sharing a meal.
I laid them out symmetrically, almost as mirror images. Although each scene uses the bench differently, the people all strive for the same freedom.
What do benches make possible for you as an artist?
For me, benches represent public space and say to people, “You are welcome here.”
I am an artist, and I don’t have a studio space, so I often go to parks, especially in nice weather. The flexibility of bench use reflects the beauty of public space: there is something for everyone, and you never know what someone might use it for. But if you don’t build it, they can’t use it.
Whoever gets the sunny bench is like the lottery winner, unless it is mid-August.
How have benches helped you connect with other people?
This collaboration wouldn’t be possible without the benches you and I sat on when we met.
As someone who has struggled to find community, I’ve met other people and built real connections on benches.
Max Lockwood is an SPNA volunteer, writer, and social entrepreneur focused on natural public health and public land stewardship. He previously served as a U.S. park ranger, an analyst for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and a communications and marketing consultant for the running and outdoor recreation industry. He spends his time in New York City, Northeast Vermont, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Artwork: “Bench People” by Sebastian Jaime Marciano (Rawky Marcy). Used with permission.