Collective Unconscious occupied a small, ratty and bizarrely decorated retail space on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side. The space was a venue ruled by and for a diverse group of performance artists, writers, poets and creative scenesters who held regular open mic nights and shows there. CU represents a part of New York City's post-post-modern underground at its best and most fun. Among the scene's notable figures is the artist and author Reverend Jen. But Collective Unconscious had been battling a malevolent landlord and the indefatigable tsunami of Lower East Side gentrification. Before fleeing the space, the CU massive (allegedly, of course) put up some cheeky graffiti plugging their new location and hinting at the logo-fied retail giants who might occupy the space in the future; on the Collective Unconscious sign, "Starbucks" and "The Gap" have been spray-painted. CU will live on. A new space has been secured in lower Manhattan at 279 Church Street. You should pay them a visit when in NYC.

Ivan G. Corsa Photo