InterAct: Public Meditation in NYC Subway

http:www.dance-tech.net
Yestarday, a group of meditators sat in the pathways in the Port Authority Subway station in NYC during rush-hour. It was great sight in juxtaposition with the fast walking and hurry of the subway users.
It was organized by the Interdependence Project's Theatre Research Ensemble (TREe)
http://www.theidproject.org/
http://treeplays.com/
Short interview with Josh Adler, Director of Arts and Communications for the Interdependence Project and a co-creater of the Time Interchange of New York is includded.

From the Interdepence Project website:
Public meditation is both a powerful social act and a mode of performance that is accessible to everyone. Starting on March 4th the Interdependence Project's Theatre Research Ensemble (TREe) will create a new series of public meditation performances called "InterActs". Building on the success of the Interdependence Project's "Sit Down/Rise Up" meditation marathon in the display windows of the ABC Home and Carpet, our group will meet twice a month to produce these events. In the first meeting we will organize, create, and compose; during the second meeting we will perform. All are welcome to join, and we hope that this program will open our ensemble to new participants and audiences alike.
produced by marlon barrios solano

• Category

  Education

[R Gambit]

this only works at midnight

[Swedish Otaku]

Haha, that theory is just too strange. I'm sure it would be ok in Sweden.

[Swedish Otaku]

Haha, a breakdown? i'm sure not. He wouldn't sit down peacefully and meditate in that case. I think he was doing some kind of experiment. I'd like to do the same thing, I just wouldn't dare to. Xd

[Swedish Otaku]

Really? I'll try... maybe it's only in swedish.

No, I can't find it anywhere. Not even when searching for swedish words on YT nor Google. I know there is, or was, a video of it out there. It was like a bold man in a suit. Sitting on his briefcase in the middle like these people were. I think it was filmed just by some random person.

[Swedish Otaku]

There is some video of a guy meditating in a subway in Stockholm. U might find it if you search for something like that on YT.

[Swedish Otaku]

Why are they having the eyes open?

Its better if ONE does this. Then i think its a really good thing. But u gotta have guts. Like that guy in Stockholm.

[japon7171]

I think this is good challenge, but at the same time, this meditation is annoying people...

[Larry B]

really, you could say that they are just a bunch of tubes!!! - boom boom!!!!

[CatalysticCadence]

I wanted to highlight what dfbartlett1 brings up about people's narratives ... this kind of work serves the important purpose of disrupting people's narratives (like running to-do lists in our heads instead of being aware of what's happening NOW in the present moment) ... although I cannot speak for those who facilitated this project, I believe the intrinsic benefit of work like this manifests if even one person pauses long enough to experience just a moment of now.

[CatalysticCadence]

This is powerful stuff. Finding the stillness in chaos ... I would love to be present with this. It seems dance activists and siteworkers are meeting more and more resistance from "the man" with our projects (like here and in the Jefferson Memorial arrest). Perhaps this is a testament to the work's relevance, and a call for more works which engage people in their everyday lives. The larger community could learn so much from the dance world. Important stuff. I love it!! BRAVO!