Figment NYC - Free Art Show

Natarajasana

Figment on Govenors Island is a really special weekend long event. Free transportation, free entry, no commercialization of products and nothing to buy. What a novel event based on community service, volunteering, creativity and play. 

View from Govenors Island

My friend Maitreya Levanchild performed a roving sacred dance piece,"Not An Island". I wasn't able to see her performance, but I did go out with her the day before the event to help her set up and bring about 60 pounds of art installation. Also on the island close to my heart, The ID Project had a mala of plastic bags in an effort to bring awareness to plastic bag consumption, an activist project that was launched in 2007. Govenors Island is absolutely beautiful. You feel like you are on sacred land, land that is unique, special and one of a kind. 

Andy Golub painting a model

I went out on Saturday to work with Andy Golub as a model for body painting. It takes about an hour or so to get the look that he did on me. He starts with a base coat, gold everywhere for this project, and then added the design in segments. He works on other models - as one is drying another is getting painted. Andy doesn't stop. He's really quite amazing with his vision. A lot of people ask is it hard to wash off? The paint comes off quite readily with soap and a washcloth. Some scrubbing is necessary and some parts of the skin have a light stain, but that comes off in the next shower or bath. I find color in my ears for a couple of days, too.

Andy Golub's art work in action

meditation

upside down

After Andy finished painting, his friend and photographer Dave Hoffman graciously followed me around the island as I chose locations to strike some asanas. He used my iPhone for all of these photos.  : -)

Figment Project Organization
Drawing inspiration from other community-based arts events, the development, production, and experience of FIGMENT are guided by these 11 principles:
PARTICIPATION
Transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play.
DECOMMODIFICATION
FIGMENT seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We will not substitute consumption for experience.
INCLUSION
Anyone may be a part of FIGMENT; no prerequisites exist for participation except willingness to work and play. We welcome and respect the stranger.
SELF-EXPRESSION
Each individual and collaborating group has unique qualities, and through self-expression can offer a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of others.
SELF-RELIANCE
FIGMENT encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
GIVING
FIGMENT is devoted to acts of gift giving and volunteering. FIGMENT itself is a gift from volunteer artists and event staff, who hope that each participant brings an attitude of giving. Giving does not imply a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
COMMUNAL EFFORT
We seek to create an environment ripe for each individual to achieve personal artistic transformation — but the creation of such an environment can be done only through creative cooperation and collaboration.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Each participant in FIGMENT is responsible for creating a civil environment for all other participants. We endeavor to produce this event in a way that fosters a civil society and that is socially responsible.
LEAVE NO TRACE
We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves to leave each place in a better state than we found it.
IMMEDIACY
Too often the limit for creative expression is the barrier between our inner selves and the selves that we present to the world. By breaking down that barrier, we can gain a profound appreciation for the opportunities that lie in each time and place.
GRATITUDE
We believe it is important to remind ourselves where we come from, and to appreciate what has been given to us to get us to where we are. We are not entitled to anything, and approach our relations to others from a place of gratitude for their efforts.