Psy-Geo-Conflux
Encyclopedia
Psy-Geo-Conflux is the annual New York City
festival dedicated to psychogeography
, where visual, performance and sound artists, writers, urban adventurers, researchers and the public gather for four days to explore the physical and psychological landscape of the city.
Conflux was co-founded by David Mandl of the Brooklyn Psychogeographical Association and Glowlab
's Christina Ray. The first Psy-Geo-Conflux event was held in May 2003 at ABC No Rio
in New York. Psychogeographers from the U.S., Canada
, U.K., France
and the Netherlands
conducted experimental walks using computer code, decks of cards and other systems for navigation
; a mobile-phone-guided drift through the streets of New York; a life-sized chess
game using humans as pieces; several talks and presentations; a noise parade; an art exhibition; and a night of psychogeography-inspired live music, DJs, and video. Village Voice writer Bryan Zimmerman noted, "The event is centered around a seasoned yet growing field of creative recreation and alt-geographic exploration called psychogeography. Trying to define this obtuse field is an adventure itself, although a relatively straightforward definition includes "the study of the effects of the geographic environment on the emotions and behavior of individuals." One of the boldest characteristics of psychogeography may be its ability to influence and bring together all kinds of artists, social scientists, philosophers, urban provocateurs and spelunkers, and even traditional geographers, in an entirely accessible venue-public space.".
Conflux 2004 featured a full program of events over the course of four days, including experimental walks using altered maps and navigational aids; high-tech drifts through the city using wearable computing devices; a walking presentation of an urban documentary project commissioned by the New Museum of Contemporary Art
; a gallery exhibition; a series of temporary installations, lectures, audio and video works and more. The second annual event took place at PARTICIPANT INC non-profit arts center on the Lower East Side
, and included over 50 participating international artists and groups.
In 2005, Conflux was replicated by Providence Initiative for Psychogeographic Studies
in Providence
, Rhode Island
in an event known as as Provflux. An additional Conflux-related event titled "Open Lab" was held at Art Interactive in Cambridge
, Massachusetts
.
In 2006, the 3rd annual Conflux festival was held in Brooklyn for the first time on September 14–17. McCaig-Welles Gallery in Williamsburg
served as Conflux headquarters, with events taking place in and around the gallery.
In 2007, the 4th annual festival was held at in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
In 2008, the 5th annual festival was held at the Center for Architecture
in lower Manhattan.
In 2009, the 6th annual festival was be held at New York University
in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development on September 18-20th.
In 2010, the 7th annual festival was held on October 8–10 at NYU Steinhardt’s Barney Building.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
festival dedicated to psychogeography
Psychogeography
Psychogeography was defined in 1955 by Guy Debord as "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals." Another definition is "a whole toy box full of playful, inventive strategies for...
, where visual, performance and sound artists, writers, urban adventurers, researchers and the public gather for four days to explore the physical and psychological landscape of the city.
Conflux was co-founded by David Mandl of the Brooklyn Psychogeographical Association and Glowlab
Glowlab
Glowlab was an artist-run initiative that produced and presented experimental work related to cities and psychogeography, including interactive artworks and projects, events, exhibitions, and artists' gatherings. Brooklyn artist and curator Christina Ray launched Glowlab in 2002 as an experimental,...
's Christina Ray. The first Psy-Geo-Conflux event was held in May 2003 at ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio is a social center located at 156 Rivington Street on New York City's Lower East Side that was founded in 1980. It features a gallery space, a zine library, a darkroom, a silkscreening studio, and public computer lab...
in New York. Psychogeographers from the U.S., Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, U.K., France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
conducted experimental walks using computer code, decks of cards and other systems for navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
; a mobile-phone-guided drift through the streets of New York; a life-sized chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
game using humans as pieces; several talks and presentations; a noise parade; an art exhibition; and a night of psychogeography-inspired live music, DJs, and video. Village Voice writer Bryan Zimmerman noted, "The event is centered around a seasoned yet growing field of creative recreation and alt-geographic exploration called psychogeography. Trying to define this obtuse field is an adventure itself, although a relatively straightforward definition includes "the study of the effects of the geographic environment on the emotions and behavior of individuals." One of the boldest characteristics of psychogeography may be its ability to influence and bring together all kinds of artists, social scientists, philosophers, urban provocateurs and spelunkers, and even traditional geographers, in an entirely accessible venue-public space.".
Conflux 2004 featured a full program of events over the course of four days, including experimental walks using altered maps and navigational aids; high-tech drifts through the city using wearable computing devices; a walking presentation of an urban documentary project commissioned by the New Museum of Contemporary Art
New Museum of Contemporary Art
The New Museum, founded in 1977 by Marcia Tucker, is the only museum in New York City exclusively devoted to presenting contemporary art from around the world...
; a gallery exhibition; a series of temporary installations, lectures, audio and video works and more. The second annual event took place at PARTICIPANT INC non-profit arts center on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, and included over 50 participating international artists and groups.
In 2005, Conflux was replicated by Providence Initiative for Psychogeographic Studies
Providence Initiative for Psychogeographic Studies
Providence Initiative for Psychogeographic Studies [PIPS] or as it sometimes stands for, People Interested in Participatory Societies, is a small collective of artists in Providence, Rhode Island which promotes artistic and social investigations in psychogeography.The group states: "In order to...
in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in an event known as as Provflux. An additional Conflux-related event titled "Open Lab" was held at Art Interactive in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
In 2006, the 3rd annual Conflux festival was held in Brooklyn for the first time on September 14–17. McCaig-Welles Gallery in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
served as Conflux headquarters, with events taking place in and around the gallery.
In 2007, the 4th annual festival was held at in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
In 2008, the 5th annual festival was held at the Center for Architecture
Center for Architecture
Operated by the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Center for Architecture is located in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village at 536 LaGuardia Place, between West 3rd Street and Bleecker Street in New York City...
in lower Manhattan.
In 2009, the 6th annual festival was be held at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development on September 18-20th.
In 2010, the 7th annual festival was held on October 8–10 at NYU Steinhardt’s Barney Building.