After a brutal winter, the sun was finally shining brightly over New York City. Soft and fluffy clouds scattered across a deep blue sky on a lazy Saturday afternoon. And then there were pillows! Just the perfect setting to celebrate the 2014 International Pillow Fight Day.
Yes! There is an International Pillow Fight Day and this year more than a hundred cities world wide transformed public spaces into rousing battle grounds. New York, of course, is never too old for having some fun, especially when flash mobs are involved in its celebrated public spaces.
Armed with the softest (and the most harmless) available weapon, men and women, young and old, all flocked together in Washington Square Park to smack strangers with a soft punch of pillows. Warriors were encouraged to dress up in their favorite superhero or villain costumes and enthusiastic New Yorkers sure did not disappoint! Flaunting their capes, masks and pillows, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman and the Hulk all came together to save Gotham City from the bad guys.
Organized by the Urban Playground Movement, pillow fight day was started with the goal to partially replace passive, non-social experiences in public spaces with unique events that will eventually become a significant part of popular culture.
What else could be a better way for blowing off some steam and waving goodbye to a long, frigid winter? Untapped Cities swooped into action, right in the heart of the fluffy madness, taking a few blows, making new friends and witnessing an age old public space being transformed into a vibrant playground for spontaneous urban interaction! Scroll down for more photographs:
Did you know that Washington Square Park was once home to a very large graveyard? Find out more.
Bhushan is an Architect and Urban Designer at Perkins Eastman. Get in touch with him @Bhushan_NYC.Â
Â