Figment (Arts event)

FIGMENT is an annual participatory arts event on Governors Island in New York Harbor. The mission of FIGMENT is to provide a forum for community-based participatory art and experience. FIGMENT strives to build community among artists and participants, to foster the participatory arts in New York City, and to demonstrate a vision for the future of Governors Island as an international arts destination. FIGMENT is a community-based event organized and run by volunteers.

The event draws its name from New York’s artistic heritage. Andy Warhol once commented that he’d like his tombstone to have only one word on it: “Figment.” Warhol never got his wish; he has a traditional grave marker.

FIGMENT is based on a number of principles including decommodification and leave no trace.

Art projects are solicited for FIGMENT through a curatorial process, based on artistic merit, ambitiousness, and interactivity. FIGMENT focuses on art projects that demonstrate an ability to transform their environment and the perception of participants.

FIGMENT is a project of [http://actionartsleague.org Action Arts League] , and is produced by a coalition of volunteers in partnership with [http://thepureproject.com The Pure Project] .

The event is currently supported by individual donations, and by a 2008 grant from the [http://www.lmcc.net/ Lower Manhattan Cultural Council] .

FIGMENT 2007

FIGMENT was launched in 2007 as a one-day event on July 8. FIGMENT attracted over 60 participatory arts projects, and hosted over 2,800 participants.

FIGMENT 2008

In 2008, FIGMENT was a three-day event on June 27-29. Over 10,000 people attended the event, and attendance records were set for Governors Island for the most people ever on the island on a Friday (1,486), on a Saturday (5,305), on a Sunday (3,536), and on a weekend (10,327).

Two special projects include the City of Dreams Minigolf course (open from June 27 to October 5, 2008), and the Emergence exhibition (open from May 31 to July 26, 2008). Both of these special projects were funded by the Black Rock Arts Foundation.

References

* http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282008/entertainment/figment__imagination_117517.htm
* http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/figment-2008-on-governors-island/
* http://dailysession.com/2008/06/17/news-figment-returns-to-govs-isl/
* http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/arts/06imag.html?scp=4&sq=figment&st=nyt
* http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Arts_festival_awakens_sleepy_Governors_Island/9277.html
* http://www.nowpublic.com/festival_not_figment_governors_island
* http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/07/she_was_not_a_figment_of_your.html
* http://www.rhythmism.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56936
* http://www.governorsislandalliance.org/newsite/events/

External links

* [http://www.figmentnyc.org/ FIGMENT event website]
* [http://www.emergenceshow.org/ Emergence exhibition website]
* [http://www.actionartsleague.org/ Action Arts League website]
* [http://www.govisland.com/ Governors Island website]
* [http://www.blackrockarts.org/ Black Rock Arts Foundation website]