🏖️ ALGORITHM FREE SUMMER – PART 2
A first event recap | July 27, 2025 | Café Han Dee, Busan
It was a hot summer day. Perfect for the beach. And Busan has a lot of those.
I wasn’t sure who would show up. Or if they’d come ready to share. But everything came together in its own quiet way.
The first trial run of Algorithm Free Quarterly took place on July 27th at Café Han Dee—a sun-soaked cookie café tucked into the heart of downtown Busan. I knew Marcia would be there as our guest speaker, and I’d asked my friend María to stop by and take some photos. Beyond that, it was a leap of faith.
So many events I’ve run in the past have had ticketing or sign-ups. But this felt like a return to total basics: no list, no numbers, just hope and nerves.
🎤 A Guest Worth Listening To
Filmmaker, poet, movement artist, and all-around brilliant human being Marcia Peschke opened the afternoon. I’d invited her to introduce herself, talk a little about her work, and share 5-6 recommendations1 of books, films, or anything else that have meant something to her.
Her talk turned into a story that wove together childhood moments, creative turning points, and the people and works that shaped her. She centered everything around curiosity. Honestly, I think she explained the spirit of the event better than I ever could.
📚 What Happened After
After Marcia’s talk, the room opened up. People asked questions, shared reflections, and moved into informal groups. Conversations flowed. Cookies were eaten. Phones stayed on tables or in pockets as people passed along names, ideas, and inspirations.
The café closed at 5:30, but a group lingered — the café owner among them. Some left with new books to track down. Others with places to visit. And a few made new connections that’ll likely continue long after summer ends.
🔜 What’s Next?
Several people have already asked about the next gathering. It’ll take place sometime in Autumn.
And maybe more than once — I’ve been talking with spaces in both Busan and Seoul, and there’s a chance the next edition will take place in both cities.
No date yet. No guest locked in. But it’s coming.
I’ve gathered a few drawings from the event to experiment with what a small zine might look like. It’s still early, but I’ll test a few things and see what feels right. The first zine may have to wait until after the Autumn events.
🎥 In the Meantime...
Check out some of the creative conversations happening on my YouTube channel, like this recent feature with Ulsan multidisciplinary artist Yihwa Kim:
👉 Watch the interview
Thanks to everyone who came, listened, shared, and slowed down for a few hours.
Until next time,
– Phil
For those curious, Marcia’s recommendations were: