Artist Research

   Kevin Bracken

Kevin Bracken was born in Long Island, New York in 1986.
He and Lori Kufner co-founded Newmindspace during his 5-year studies in Toronto, Canada, beginning in 2004. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Sociology from the University of Toronto, he returned to New York to work on Refuge, a multi-purpose center for the arts in Brooklyn, where Newmindspace was then headquartered.
Kevin now divides his time between New York and Toronto, focusing his energy on distilling the culture of Newmindspace and creating new, bigger events in the future.
Newmindspace is Kevin Bracken and Lori Kufner, two fun-loving artists who live in Toronto, Canada. Since March of 2005, they have been organizing free, fun, all-ages events like parties on subway cars, public pillow fights, giant games of capture the flag on city streets, massive bubble battles, public art installations and much more. As of February 2011, they have organized over 75 outdoor events in New York City, Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco and Vancouver.
These events are part of the larger urban playground movement, a loosely-knit group of event organizers around the world who share a common goal: to promote free events in public space, bring people together and create community.

This community’s biggest day of the year is International Pillow Fight Day, the first Saturday of every April – the largest event of which is Newmindspace’s Pillow Fight NYC, which can attract up to 5,000 people.
In 2011, Newmindspace is redoubling its efforts to raise money for charities such as WWF-Canada and New York’s Coalition for the Homeless, and focusing on massive public art as a way to do good in the world.

Blanket Festivus: Explore the labyrinthine maze of softness, this time built inside a beautiful 5,000 square-foot loft on Queen West. Enjoy bedtime stories, winter- and holiday-themed areas, art installations and late-night snacks

String of Diamonds is hundreds of bright, white lights that seem to hang from the heavens. Visitors can view the 15-story tall centrepiece or help create strands of their own with friends and strangers. This shimmering landmark begins as a mystery that invites participants from kilometers away.

BUBBLE BATTLE

THE BIG KISS