"It's so boring here without you" by Adam Milner

I love this bench. I affectionately call it my office because I can often be found working on it, as I have no better space in the building to work. I enjoy seeing each person walk in and out the front doors, spy on who uses the elevator to go the second floor, and greet people as they emerge from the basement to gain a moment of cellphone reception.

It's so boring here without you is based on the idea of a sterile, harsh, angular space becoming warm as people fill it. On the first day back to classes I decorated the space and made tea and cookies for whoever wanted to join me for a moment on the bench. I occupied it from 9 to 5 with the exception of our class time. This text was inspired by that event on some level. It speaks to loneliness and a longing for human interaction and proximity.

The text was meant to be both personal and universal. I was hoping the meaning would change depending on who was occupying the space. At moments, the text seemed to be from the artist, at times it came from the person sitting beneath it, and at other times it came from the wood itself. To whom it is speaking also varied throughout it's existence.

I wish it could have stayed installed longer, and I would like to continue this idea both in this space as well as in other areas around campus and the city.