The 14 sculptural “Lariat Seat Loops” encircle structural columns at the 33rd Street subway station in a variety of shapely configurations. In each, says artist James Garvey, "the thick bronze bar... resembles the lasso demonstration in a Will Rogers film clip." Useful and decorative, some loops serve as handholds and others as seat rests. Each bar swells where it touches the surface and is attached to the column with custom-forged bolts. 

The Loops were handmade and individually crafted in Garvey's forge in Harlem. Describing the work, he said, "I look at the lariat loops almost as earrings, as ornaments that adorn the architecture and add a little flair to the space. My aim is to put inspiration into routine treks and refresh people caught up in mundane thoughts."

James Garvey, an artist blacksmith based in New York, has a B.F.A. from Colorado State University, and for ten years, he was head of blacksmithing at the Rochester Folk Art Guild. He has created original hand-forged artwork in public places, including twelve installations that have been approved as permanent works of art by the New York City Arts Commission. Garvey developed the method used to replicate most of the 1,600 armature bars of the Statue of Liberty. He teaches sculpture at Art Students League in New York. He makes street furniture, custom glasses of forged titanium. and original design for personal ware, swords and tableware.