PILLOWFIGHT!

April 11, 2002, downtown L.A. -- What better place for an art installation / pillow fight? Ever since Salvation Mountain's 5-minute warm-up, I had been craving more goose down action, so when Ley and Karen mentioned this one, I donned my star-and-moon jammies. To be precise, the event is titled thusly: "Elizabeth Jackson and The World Pillow Fighting Association (WPFA) presents Shindai, the Japanese Art of Pillow Fighting." The gallery was planted with grass from wall to wall (hence the stains on my pajama pants) and at the center was a blue gym-style mat. None of this is visible below -- not because the photos are in black and white, but because the feathers covered the place by about 10 pm. Karen and Ley never made it, but Vanessa materialized -- jammies in tow (We were the only ones. For Shame!!) -- and Bob and John (Salvation Mountain / Cacophony members) were there to assist in the debauchery and take video footage. Vanessa, myself and our two combatants went on last, as Miss Shindai knew we'd wreck the joint and that further control of the evening would be minimal. Even with her microphone.

In order to achieve the right state of mind necessary for Shindai pillow fighting, one must don the proper attire -- either a pair of pajamas or a kimono-type robe like the one you see here (WcDonald's, a "proud sponsor of the WPFA"). Our two combatants (shown below) wore Shindai jumpsuits. Part of the exhibit, these robes had different logos and styles and hung along one wall. Call for colors and sizes. 1-877-SHI-NDAI.

 

Discussing our strategy before the showdown, Vanessa, Andrew and I decide to beat the crap out of each other for about 30 seconds, then go "Matrix-style slo mo" and freak everyone out. Note the slits in our pillows. The goal of the game (ostensibly) is to empty your opponent's pillow of feathers. However, the objective of the game in the Western hemisphere varies slightly and contains the words "honkey-style thrown down ass whoppin'."

 

The Shindai bow, which must be done carefully so as not to anger the gods or cause injury to self or others. Injury comes later!! Vanessa is my fighting partner in the cherry pajamas. The other two are Cameron and Finger (aka Andrew, who never e-mailed me photos of this night like he promised at the Cannibal Flower art show downtown!! shit list + 1, buddy).

 

Getting ready to whip some Japanese-style booty. Those are the robes in back, though some have been removed and put on. Try not to be blinded by the light emanating from Fingers' bald head.

 

Vanessa gets clocked from behind. Despite my team spirit, I am amused by this and (apparently) planning to deal a follow-up blow.

 

Vanessa gets her revenge.

 

The Feather Queen.

 

Vanessa, Andrew and me.

 

I think our fight only lasted about three minutes before I started swinging at the crowd and things disintegrated. Bob is about to get whacked by Vanessa. The scene makes a lot more sense when you realize there is now music on and some sort of bizarre strobe light.

 

Poor Bob goes south. John is on the right.

 

My former adversary. He is pouting because we KICKED THEIR SORRY ARSES. Boys. Sheesh.

 

You can now see why it took me 40 minutes to get the feathers out of my hair. I am STILL pulling them out of my clothes. Note: Never wear anything to a pillow fight that you won't throw out on the way home.

 

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