Playing Pong With Your Brain

Figment is one of my favorite arts festivals in New York City and it happened again this last weekend. It takes place on Governors Island and is entirely free, with all the art solely for arts sake (ie. none of it is for sale).  A lot of the art is interactive too, like a great mini-golf course which each hole designed and built by a different artist. 

This year, Figment took interactive to a new level though with a video game that was played with your brain. In a futuristic twist on the favorite Pong, player's brain waves moved the paddles as opposed to their hands on a joystick.  There's an article about it in the TIMES City Room blog today and it sounds like it was a hit.  This is actually one piece of "art" I would like to buy.

Figment Festival On Governor's Island

If you're looking for something unique to do this weekend, check out the Figment Arts Festival on Governor's Island. I was out on "The Island" (as I like to phrase it) last weekend for a bike tour and it's a pretty amazing place; a beautiful abandoned Coast Guard base/ghost town just 10 minutes by ferry from Lower Manhattan. This weekend Figment will be turning the island into a living work of art with participation encouraged (i.e. an artsy Mini-Golf course on the theme "City of Dreams"). The festival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the ferry leaves from the terminal right next to where the Staten Island Ferry departs. Oh--and it's all free, the perfect recessionary activity.