The Elsewhere Public Works Agency Needs Your Help

Recently, I received a strange email from a group calling themselves the Elsewhere Public Works Agency asking me to investigate another outfit known as The Jejune Institute, the website for which invokes a pastiche of 70s pseudo-science and new-agey cultism. Here’s the video from their website, with founder Octavio Coleman, Esq. inviting us to visit the cult— er, Institute:

Good thing it’s not at all real. Some digging around and help from my friend Gwen revealed a connection to the Oakland-based arts and history collective organization Oaklandish, and an older arts group called the Nonchalance Collective that was Oaklandish’s predecessor. A recent post to Oaklandish’s mailing list from Oaklandish founder Jeff “Bobby Peru” Hull repeats some of the same info in the email I received:

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Special Transmission from:
Elsewhere Public Works Agency
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Slight Nudges Now Offered.
Solely for the Discerning Dilettante.
Be Aware – it could be in the wrong direction.
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Is the Jejune Institute still spreading false
nonchalance? Or have they mended their ways?
We need you to find out.
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/ // / // Next steps // / // / /
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dial: 415.325.4014
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visit:
The Jejune Institute
580 California Street, Suite 1607
San Francisco, CA.
Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 5:30pm
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http://JejuneInstitute.org
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I’ve since been to The Jejune Institute’s office, and went through their short “induction seminar,” which is really the first step in beginning the first chapter of a sort of interactive narrative/alternate reality game. So far it’s involved a bit of urban exploration, clue-finding, exposure to street art downtown, and the beginnings of a larger mystery to solve, and made for a fun afternoon. I’m not sure yet if and how it’ll tie in to the local arts scene or creative history of the Bay Area otherwise, but I really like that this is coming from local artists, and not from a marketing firm promoting a video game, a movie, or some such thing. I’ll be sticking with it for now to see how it plays out, ties in with local culture, and why these folks are putting this together in the first place.

Intrigued thrill-seekers who want to play through can drop in the Institute office at the address above. When you go, tell security that you’re going to Suite 1607, and then tell the receptionist on the 16th floor that you’re there for The Jejune Institute. If you’re going to go, I’d try to go within the next couple of weeks. Given the nature of these games, I can’t say how much longer it’ll be available.

Meanwhile, the Elsewhere Public Works Agency would also like to warn you against microwave harassment.