You don’t need to know how to play chess to participate in the 2009 Human Scale Chess Game. Probably the most diverting way to participate is by representing a piece in the game. How will this work? Let’s pretend you are the white b-pawn (that’s the pawn in front of the knight).
We’re going to divide the Village/NYU area into an 8 x 8 block game board. Each intersection will represent a square on the chess board, for example: let’s say that b2, which is the square that the white b-pawn starts on, is at 1st Ave and E 10th St. When that pawn gets moved, you will get a phone call (or text message) instructing you to move to b3. You’d then walk up to 1st Ave and E 11th St and wait for the next call.
But you don’t have to be the white b-pawn, you can choose to be any piece on the board! Queens and Bishops will be covering a lot of territory, they may move up to 7 blocks at a time, and many of those moves will be on a diagonal. We recommend that those players bring a skateboard or bike or rollerblades. Rooks may make some big moves, too, but it will likely be toward the end of the game. Knights won’t be moving too far but they should also be prepared for an active game with a lot of walking. Pawns and kings will have the most leisurely game, moving only at the most two squares/blocks in any one move.
Everyone should be prepared to be in the sun/elements for a couple of hours, so bring sunscreen, hats, etc. Costuming appropriate to your piece is not obligatory but is strongly encouraged!
Sign up to be a piece now! Usually the spots for Kings and Queens get claimed first. Claim your place on the board by emailing sharilyn {dot} neidhardt {at} gmail {dot} com.
These pieces are spoken for:
- Black King: Rob
- Black b-knight: Karoline
- Black c-bishop: Maxwell
- Black g-knight: Christopher
- White Queen: Corinne
- White b-knight: Kevin
- White c-bishop: Drew
- White g-knight: Seth
