Find Your Band | Bang on A Can | The Art Assignment

This week we meet with experimental musicians Mark Stewart and Julia Wolfe at the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival at MASS MoCA, an amazing contemporary art museum in North Adams, Massachusetts. They give us the challenge to FIND YOUR BAND.

INSTRUCTIONS - Find Your Band
1. Go through your day and notice all the sounds around you
2. Choose a group of those sounds to be your band
3. Join the band!
4. Record or document what happens and upload to your social media platform of choice with #theartassignment
5. Fame and glory (your work might be in a future episode)

[Madamuuu]

When he pointed at the dryer and yelled "SOLO!" I completely lost it XDD.  This was incredibly inspiring.

[davidshi]

Okay, I agree--these people are awesome, and I definitely wouldn't mind The Art Assignment becoming about experimental music!

[PKTechie]

"Don't neglect the elephant." Wiser words were never spoken. 

[emiliamarie]

I thought this one was weird until Mark started singing along with the switchbox. I always sing with the vacuum, so it made total sense to me suddenly.

[MeredithEveritt]

THESE PEOPLE ARE MY TRIBE! The other day I realized my A/C window unit was playing a pretty solid Bb.I started harmonizing with it and clapping. I can't believe there are other people that do this kind of thing...PROFESSIONALLY! :D 

My favorite part was when he gave the dryer the solo. That was hilarious. 

[shanfox]

Favorite people in my favorite space. I can't get enough Julia Wolfe and Mark Stewart: beautiful beautiful beautiful people. 

[Eruantinell]

My brother and I are now pounding on every pan and flicking every light switch while singing..thank you Mark and Julia. It reminds me of the trashing the camp in Tarzan.

[TimsVids]

I went into that thinking it would be ridiculous (bad), and I've come out thinking it was ridiculous (good!!). What excellent people!!!

[Caroline]

"It's clean." I love these two!

[eggsellis]

This has got to be the most inspiring and interesting art assignments yet. Not just a push to experiment with music and art, but also a push to embrace yourself fully.

[AwesomesMan]

This was fantastic. Just smiles throughout. Dryer solo!

[ellock]

Can I just say I love these guys! They are so out there in the best way possible. They are so real and so legitimate, I love it.

[jayjooisland]

This was by far the best Art Assignment yet, in my opinion. I'm sure this is because I love music like some people love their Gods. This, to put it plainly, blew my mind. Incredibly inspiring!

[persnikity]

These people are freaking hilarious. They look like a lot of fun to hang out with.

[theiceberghfloats]

I love this!  Thank you for including musicians in The Art Assignment!  As a musician who is familiar with "unpopular music" and has studied it, it was so exciting to see Mark Stewart and Julia Wolfe bring awareness to music that exists and is just as important as what's playing on the radio.

[LyssandraNorton]

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE
They're the kind of people that when you have in your life, it makes the world that much more interesting and a positive place to be.
The kind of people that I want to be, not just 'when I'm their age' but right now. And forever.

[JulieBurstein]

my favorite moment comes at about 9:00 in, when Julia Wolfe sings a duet with a washing machine.  Mark Stewart and the rain is beautiful too.  A lot of fun!

[ileft]

That was so fun to watch! It's really inspiring to see people get to do what they love, so unapologetically and passionately, and to have such a great time doing it!

[hillarylabonte]

As if I couldn't love The Art Assignment any more...you have warmed this singer's heart! For anyone in the DC area looking to see a little more new music, Great Noise Ensemble is performing Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians at the Atlas Theatre - Saturday, September 20th, at 8PM.

[AlleyBetwixt]

I think I've just discovered my new favorite people. Lol. So awesome and a great art assignment!