EMBARRASS, WI – Amidst the rolling cornfields and quaint charm of rural Wisconsin, the Society of Spontaneous Gesticulations (SSG) hosted their annual Fête du Décervelage last Thursday, January 2nd.
For the uninitiated, the Fête du Décervelage, loosely translated to “Festival of the Unbraining,” is a pataphysical celebration honoring the absurd and challenging conventional thought. The SSG, a local group dedicated to the playful spirit of Fluxus, took this opportunity to push boundaries further with their theme: “Fluxus Phantoms: Scores from the Unexistscape.”
Gone were the usual parades and public gatherings. Instead, participants donned self-made “unbraining” helmets crafted from cardboard boxes and colanders. They were greeted by a cacophony of pre-recorded performances and live interactions, all inspired by “Fluxus scores” that never actually existed.
“It’s about letting go of expectations and exploring the possibilities of the absurd,” shared Ms. Penelope Featherstitch, a founding member of the SSG. “Even though the scores are fictional, they spark creativity and encourage us to see the world in new ways.”
The highlight of the evening was “The Collective Canvas of Unremembered Dreams.” Participants were instructed to close their eyes and recall forgotten dreams, then translate them into abstract sketches using online drawing tools. As the individual sketches merged into a collective artwork, a mesmerizing dreamscape emerged, filled with floating clocks, talking trees, and one-eyed cats.
The Fête du Décervelage concluded with a toast using whatever beverage participants had on hand, a testament to the event’s ability to unite people in shared experience. As the “unbrained” participants left, they carried with them the spirit of playful absurdity and a renewed appreciation for the power of imagination, proving that even in this world, the unbraining never truly ends.