Flux Death Match: Is Small Big Enough? (Planning & Intervening in Public Space)

Date + time: August 22nd, 8 pm – 10 pm
Location: Flux Factory, 39-31 29th Street, Long Island City

Flux Factory is pleased to present its latest edition of Flux Death Match, an initiative that takes online debates into real-space at the Flux gallery. Four highly opinionated experts will lay down their arguments in a rapid-fire presidential style debate that will challenge convictions on critical issues. Spontaneous responses, frustrated rebuttals, and “smack downs” are in store, along with active audience participation.

In our third Death Match, Is Small Big Enough? (Planning & Intervening in Public Space), the debators will argue over the successes and failures of different approaches to creating a more inhabitable city. We’ll also delve into the sticky subject matter of finances and evaluation criteria, the politics of a gesture, and how strategies get co-opted.

All of our debators have a unique talent for alienating the argument averse. Mike Lydon is an author and Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative, an urban planning, design, and advocacy firm based in Brooklyn and Miami. Architect and educator Anne Frederick is the founding director of Hester Street Collaborative, a design-build organization that improves the physical environment in under-served NYC neighborhoods. Aurash Khawarzad is an urbanist, city-planner, and a founding member of DoTank:Brooklyn and Change Administration. Quilian Riano is a Brooklyn-based designer, writer, educator and founder of DSGN AGNC, a platform for critical activism.

The event starts at 8:00 pm with an open bar and reception for the panelists and audience members. The debate begins at 8:30 sharp and will be followed by a Q&A session, after which the audience will determine the winner. High stakes are at risk: the losers must each serve as an intern for the winner for one day.

Flux Death Match: Is Small Big Enough? (Planning & Intervening in Public Space) is organized and moderated by Douglas Paulson & Christina Vassallo.

Listen to the podcast of this debate!

The Flux Death Match series is generously supported by our main sponsor AT&T. Additional funding is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.