Fluff jobs

Kevin Stanton was studying the phenomenon of the “flash mob”—a large group of people that assembles suddenly and briefly in a prearranged public place—when he decided he wanted to organize his own in downtown Chicago. “We should do something big,” he said to his friend Heather Mitchell. “Let’s have a pillow fight,” she suggested.

So they did: About 25 people dressed in business attire gathered at Chicago and Michigan Avenues (where you don’t need a permit for any kind of performance or action), and when the signal was given, the fighting began.

“It’s kind of integral that we look like ‘normals’ before we start hitting each other,” Mitchell says. “The idea is to freak people out and instigate a lot of chaos.” Mainly they get a lot of smiles and confused looks.

The first flash-mob pillow fight went over so well that the participants asked when the next one would be. Without really thinking, Mitchell and Stanton said, “Next month.” Ever since, an undercover mob action has gone down about once a month. “There have been no casualties, no arrests, no blood—yet,” Mitchell says. “Sometimes people get hit real hard in the face and lose their glasses and they have to go looking for them. Or a cop will drive by once in a while and smile at us—but you can’t get too mad at kids having a pillow fight.”

The duo keeps hoping onlookers will join in (they usually tote some extra pillows) but no one has yet. Maybe the fact that the fights can be a real workout will inspire more people to get in on the fun. “You’re running around—it’s very aerobic,” Mitchell says. “You don’t realize that until you do it for five minutes and start to consider quitting smoking—it’s better than Tae Bo.”

The next chance to join in will be Friday 27, when the Pillow Fight Club takes part in the first Carnival of Art on the River, an alternative arts festival outside the Merchandise Mart timed to coincide with the opening night of ARTropolis. The festival will feature more than 50 local art and performance groups, including marching bands Environmental Encroachment and Mucca Pazza. Formal dress is encouraged, but pajamas are fine, too. Just don’t forget your pillow.

Visit myspace.com/pillowfightchicago or e-mail pillowfightchicago@yahoo.com. For art fest coverage, visit timeout.com/chicago/outandabout.