City Workers Show Off Creative Sides

Posted on September 22, 2025 // 0 Comments

Story & Photos By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ

More than 80 works of art by DC 37 members were highlighted this summer in the WorkWell NYC “Art if Life” exhibition in downtown Manhattan. This annual public exhibit features the visual, digital, live performance, and literary artworks of city employees.

This year’s theme, “Life Lessons Learned,” celebrated learning in the face of adversity and overcoming challenges. Workers submitted photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, music, and movement pieces inspired by their reflection on perseverance.

*Local 375 member Marc Brown’s / “BUZ163” collage piece “Mum-Mum in the Kitchen”*

Caption: Local 375 member Marc Brown poses next to his collage. Brown said: “It’s funny, many people recognize and react to the cabinet. Previously when the piece was on view, a woman said, ‘Ah I love the chinero! We had one, too.’”

Local 375 member Marc Brown, exhibiting as “BUZ163,” contributed his piece “Mum-Mum in the Kitchen,” a collage depicting his grandmother chopping vegetables in the kitchen, seen from the doorway of a dining room. Opposite her is a wooden china cabinet, a familiar, nostalgic sight across many cultures. Brown cut each piece of material by hand, including film, wallpaper, parquet, and vinyl.

SSEU Local 371 member Jorge Bolano’s multimedia piece entitled “Not Another Fairytale” was a visual exploration of the childhood warning about speaking to strangers and the deceptive nature of monsters. Bolano used a mix of scratchboard, tape, and acrylic paint, playfully rendering illustrations on two panels of canvas.

“These pieces are stylistically different from my usual work,” Bolano said. “I drew them childlike purposely to convey the feeling of when children are telling their parents something is wrong but don’t know how to express it.”

Caption: From left: Jorge Bolano’s sister, Luznerida Rosado, SSEU Local 371 member Jorge Bolano, Lianne Bolano, Leslie Taub pose in front of Bolano’s artwork.

*Luznerida Rosado performs her movement piece devoted to violence survivors*

Bolano’s mother, Luznerida Rosado, also participated in the event with her dance partner and granddaughter. A recently retired employee of the Department of Aging, Rosado created the conceptual dance piece as a response to genocide and violence against women, non-binary people, and children. Clad in purple to represent awareness of violence survivors, the performers whirled around in skirts, sweeping through motions representing fear, softness, rage, hope, and care.

“Life Lessons Learned” uniquely celebrated the creative expression of public sector workers, featuring a variety of talent and introspection. The artwork is available to view HERE.