Research

Interview with Kevin Bracken from Newmindspace

We decided to do an interview with Newmindspace because their art is about involving the community of Toronto so we wanted to get a feel for their experiences.

Nathan: Is that better?

Kevin: I can kind of hear you.

N: Haha ok let me try one more thing.

N: Okay I think I got it here now. (adjusting recording device)

K: Okay, ya I can hear ya.

N: Okay good … so just starting off … just tell me a little bit about Newmindspace and kind of where you got the idea to start the organization from?

K: Uhh well Newmindspace is an interactive public art organization. For the last two and a half years, Lori and I have been organizing free massive public events. Umm, the idea just uhh … kind of started on Easter of 2005. We had an idea that we’d like to do an easter egg hunt, but not at a park as usual, but on the street. So then at that point we realized that we had a knack, or perhaps talent for organizing events, and since then it’s been more about how than why.

N: What are some of the different events that you and Lori have put on?

K: Lori and I have done giant pillow fights, games of capture the flag, umm bubble battles … umm the most recent light saber battle, etc.

N: So where do you guys come up with these crazy ideas for different events?

K: Well, Lori and I have very intense brainstorming sessions … we also have long Internet sessions … we sort of take the best ideas that we see around the world and sort of modify or improve them or sometimes we sort of invent entire new events to have.

N: So when you’re doing these giant events ... and you’re getting ideas from all over the place … are you guys using volunteers to pull them off or?

K: Yea, I mean, essentially all the organization is done by myself and Lori but we do rely on a team of dedicated volunteers who are usually our close friends, and we fund all of the events that we have through online donations.

N: Do you guys usually break even or are you in the hole most of the time or?

K: Uhh I don’t know, I mean we usually break even … although I must say this most recent light saber battle … we’re certainly hurting.

N: What’s the most costly thing when you’re putting on something like the light saber event?

K: Umm unforeseen expenses I suppose are usually the most expensive thing … usually like something that costs a lot of money I guess is taking cabs because we have to transport such large equipment and we don’t have a car. Also, like before this last event, we realized just like two hours before that we didn’t have extension cords … so I don’t know … stuff like that. We kind of just have to like, you know, at the last minute, run to a place and buy the first thing that we find. Things like that.

N: So do you and Lori consider the events you guys put on art?

K: Uhh ya.

N: Now, how do you classify it, just like public art or?

K: How do you classify it? Well umm I mean, some people call it neo-dadaism, but I think that’s kind of pretentious … umm what kind of art is it? I don’t know, I mean, I guess some of it’s participatory art, some of it’s performance art, some of it’s interactive/installation art, I suppose … but I don’t know, I mean, when people ask is something art? I don’t think that’s really the question … I mean, it’s never even really a question for us … I mean obviously it’s art … I mean the real question is, is it good? And we think so.

N: Do you guys ever get negative reactions when you’re out doing the events?

K: Umm no.

N: I remember last year at capture the flag there was problems with the police.

K: Oh I mean, whatever haha there’s always gonna be problems with the police… well actually, now that I think about it, were there problems with the police? I don’t really remember … I mean, umm the police haven’t really given us a problem.

N: Tell me a little bit about the subway party’s you guys do.

K: Umm well, at the subway parties we meet at the last station of the line ... at the subway, we board the carts and we turn on our portable sound system, we have a guide to our subway parties as well as photos and videos from our past ones.

N: Where do you see Newmindspace going in the future? Do you see it becoming more formal, where you can actually have staff or are you just going to continue doing what you’re doing?

K: Umm we’re pretty satisfied with the way Newmindspace is going right now … umm we don’t really have any big plans for the future, I guess. We kind of plan things like a week or two in advance. We kind of hope to maintain how casual Newmindspace is for the duration of its existence.

N: Ya, I think that’s part of the fun of it is that it’s so casual, you know?

K: Ya, I mean everyone always wonders like, how are you making money off of this? And well the answer is that we’re not … it’s never really been a concern of ours, and you know, I think we’re totally satisfied with the way that it’s going right now.

N: Yea, alright, I think that’s all I really needed to ask … thanks so much for doing this!

K: No problem. If you have any other questions, give me a call.

N: Alright cool. I love the stuff you guys are doing, I wish I could’ve made it out to the light sabre battle.

K: Thank you very much … well you know … we may do another one. Well keep it real, and I look forward to seeing the results. See ya later. Bye.

N: Okay, thanks Kevin, bye.

 

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