THE BATTLE FOR MAU MAU ISLAND is an annual flotilla event that takes place on the water in different locations around Jamaica bay New York. The event is accessible only by water and invites participants through open enrollment to adopt personas, form costumed "gangs" and build DIY watercraft for engaging public waterways as a form of loose improvised theater. The event consists of a series of "maritime challenges" where the teams engage in friendly, competition (listed below in event guidelines). MAU MAU is FREE and open to the public (18 years+) to anyone who reads the guidelines and says, yes I really want to do that, which always brings out a lot of great people. Our goal is to increase the use and awareness of public waterways, specifically their potential as a frontier of temporary arts and theatrical spaces, recognizing the increasing scarcity of free creative space in NYC.
The Battle for Mau Mau Island has become an enduring and greatly anticipated cultural phenomenon of New York City providing a valuable forum for shared self expression, camaraderie and cathartic, visceral enjoyment, which has a profoundly beneficial effect for people living in an increasingly disconnected reality. Now in its 9th consecutive year there are many loyal perennial participants as well as a constantly growing community of new people who collectively create the art and theater of the event. Participants are fully immersed in the experience of MAU MAU, in a sense they live the event through role playing. The event has always strongly encouraged full participation, discouraging "spectators" and the disconnect that can arise when an event devolves into a participant/spectator dynamic. We seek to break that boundary and encourage everyone to get out of their comfort zone, into the water and learn something about themselves.
We are continually escalating the artistic requirements asked of participants each year to engineer an increasing focus on the artwork and theater of the event, nurturing the development of themes, costuming and DIY watercraft.
We are continually escalating the artistic requirements asked of participants each year to engineer an increasing focus on the artwork and theater of the event, nurturing the development of themes, costuming and DIY watercraft.
how mau mau works
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PARTICIPATION:
THE BATTLE FOR MAU MAU ISLAND IS A PARTICIPATORY EVENT, THERE ARE NO SPECTATORS. GET IMMERSED OR GET SUBMERSED. 18+ years of age. FORM A THEMED COSTUMED GANG: They say you should always dress for the job you want. Most importantly, dont do it alone. You must form a team, gang, tribe, of 3 to 10 people and dress in either matching or clearly themed outfits (like "THE WARRIORS") . Anyone attempting to attend in civilian terrestrial attire may be viewed as a wanker |
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MAKE A GANG FLAG:
Every Gang is required to make a team flag and fly it affixed to a pole in plain view. A flag is a simple sigil or symbol that graphically conveys a simple idea. Be the gang with the most stolen flags at the end of the day. You lost your flag? so sorry. Flags can be protected or hard to reach but no tying them down or putting barbed wire on them or anything, crisco is ok. They must be stealable. |
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YOU MUST BRING A DECORATED ART BOAT, if you don't have a boat, BUILD ONE: Building a boat or boat like object is the very essence of the event. An opportunity to create a working interactive art object. Don't go cheap on your art boat, take pride in her. Rally your team, give yourself ample time and make amazing art. MAU MAU founder Archibald Stoneleigh famously proclaimed at his meeting with president Taft "A person that completes the years of their life without designing and building their own boat will never understand the sea and is missing out on a full existence. You cannot stand on water, if you do not have a boat there will be nowhere for you to stand and you will simply float like a turd" If you plan to employ an army of off the shelf pool toys, please consider a way to decorate them or use them creatively. Off the shelf solutions are a bit of a cop-out Need some ideas on how to build your boat? have a look at our "DIY watercraft resource page" |
make it beautiful
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THE MAU MAU CHALLENGES:
MAU MAU IS A GLADIATORIAL COMBAT EVENT, every team must enter a champion in each of the following challenges PILLAGING is an illustrious and ancient marine tradition as old as the waves themselves. In this challenge you will attempt to steal the flags of other teams while protecting your own. The team with the most flags by sundown will be rewarded with wild accolades. loss of your team flag will disqualify you. HUMAN SWIMMING RACE swim faster than other people PUGIL FIGHTING is a crude game where champions of two gangs endeavor to knock each other off of precarious floating platforms with padded sticks (like in American gladiators.) REGATTA your gang and watercraft will be put to the test as all teams race to capture the Greased Egg from the beach. The first team to safely deposit the Greased Egg on the Atoll will be the victor. BOAT JOUSTING |
mau mau trophies
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THE "MAU MAU CUP" BEST IN SHOW
Awarded to the overall best team, a combination of achievement in all marine challenges, art boat, theme and costume concepts and general showmanship BEST THEME CONCEPT Your gang theme is everything, its what everything else comes out of. Award for most interesting and dynamic gang concept BEST BOAT DESIGN This award is for most innovative boat design, a combination of effort art and engineering, so get creative. BEST DRESSED The high seas may not be a popularity contest, but they are for sure a fashion show, so dress up! Fabulous prizes awarded in categories of BEST DRESSED PILLAGER PRIZE for MOST FLAGS STOLEN Every team must have a stealable flag on their boat at all times, steal the most flags for prize, lost your flag? so sorry. BEST GANG THEME COCKTAIL Enhance your gang theme with a specialty theme cocktail THE CHILDS PLAY AWARD A tip of the hat to the lackluster and the frugal floater who made an effort and got creative on a budget THE DAVIE JONES AWARD for WORST BOAT Worst boat or first to sink through bad design and or poor seamanship |
SAFETYNESS IS CLOSE TO GODLINESS:
All participants attend this potentially dangerous event at their own risk, THE BATTLE FOR MAU MAU ISLAND and its organizers take no responsibility for your safety or the safety of your gang-mates or belongings.
Be diligent, be aware of your surroundings at all times and watch out for others. Bring food and lots of drinking water as these things will not be provided and are not available on the water unless you want to drink salt water and eat seagulls. If you are bringing a real boat or improvised boat with a motor it must be registered and have all safety equipment for its max capacity. The captain of any real boat must have a current drivers license and be legally sober. Please do not drive motor boats near swimming people and don't swim near motor boats. As always please clean up your debris and dispose of improvised watercraft and garbage in a manner that is acceptable. We must leave no trace as we value the beauty of these remote natural locations. Basically don't be an asshole.
All participants attend this potentially dangerous event at their own risk, THE BATTLE FOR MAU MAU ISLAND and its organizers take no responsibility for your safety or the safety of your gang-mates or belongings.
Be diligent, be aware of your surroundings at all times and watch out for others. Bring food and lots of drinking water as these things will not be provided and are not available on the water unless you want to drink salt water and eat seagulls. If you are bringing a real boat or improvised boat with a motor it must be registered and have all safety equipment for its max capacity. The captain of any real boat must have a current drivers license and be legally sober. Please do not drive motor boats near swimming people and don't swim near motor boats. As always please clean up your debris and dispose of improvised watercraft and garbage in a manner that is acceptable. We must leave no trace as we value the beauty of these remote natural locations. Basically don't be an asshole.
***registration***
