Cross-cultural interactive art in the park with Figment

Aiming to bridge the gap between art creators and art appreciators by removing expression from the confines of a gallery, FIGMENT made its San Diego debut last year, drawing over 1000 participants for the day-long festival.

On Saturday, June 28 (10am–6pm) the free, all-ages event returns to Chicano Park with an increased focus on cultural collaboration among its 30+ interactive installations.

“We are taking a much more active role in involving the local Barrio Logan community and artists in the event this year,” says co-producer and curatorial director Nicole Hickman.

“We’re planning to do regularly scheduled, docent-style tours throughout the course of the day, which will help educate people about the history of the park and its murals. We also have the Danzantes [an all ages folkloric dance troupe] onboard to do an opening ceremony to bless the event.”

Last year’s inaugural FIGMENT, which started in New York in 2007 and has since spread to seven U.S. cities and on to Australia, played host to community-driven projects including a hands-on experimental music lab, comic book drawing lessons, a number of dance performances, and more than a few impromptu marching bands.

Saturday’s event features local artists presenting everything from giant robots to cellophane mazes to on-the-spot typewriter tales to forts made from mountains of books.

“FIGMENT San Diego sees Chicano Park not just as a venue, but as a true partner in our effort to build community through art,” Hickman says.

Albert Einstein may have incidentally summed up FIGMENT even better when he stated, “Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”