Bench-invasion

I enter the public space together with ten local residents, each with a bench under their arm. We actively invite members of the public to come and sit next to us. We set up the benches together. We sit. We slow down. We are present. We listen. After each individual encounter we move on, taking our benches back under our arms and looking for a new person to sit with. At the end of each encounter, we invite the people we sat with to join us for the conclusion later in the day. At the conclusion of the performance, we all come together: the bench bearers and the sitters. Passers-by are also invited to join. We turn the benches into one long table in the public space. With words, music (violin) and a drink, we make a toast to life and the beauty of brief encounters. After all is said and done, the communal table is turned back into benches and the public square gradually empties, with everyone going their separate ways.