Portrait of Sean
Today, Greer gives us insight on another side of the scene, through the eyes and experience of Sean, the 41-year-old man who has been working the bars in Tompkins Square Park for 25 years.
Greer tells us, "Of the four corners in Tompkins Square Park, I've spent most of my time in the last few years at the North East corner. This is where the bars are - the outdoor workout space, park gym, whatever you want to call it. As with any space of public gathering, there are fixtures who you come to see as routinely as the rats.
I came to know Sean through my time training at the bars the same way I've come to know anyone over there; you become a familiar face, then you get a nod, eventually a 'have a good day' and finally you introduce yourself. Most people like to talk, even though most people keep to themselves. These communal spaces are special to me because they serve as meeting grounds for discourse. In this video portrait, I talk to Sean about his relationship to the bars - how he found his footing and what his experience is today."
