No coins, just change

Photo courtesy Stencil Revolution.  Stencil by Meek.

Playing for Change is a self-described “multimedia movement” that connects people from all over the world in musical projects, inspiring everyone exposed to feel uplifted and united.

“The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race.” – Read more.

Playing for Change records songs and videos via a mobile recording studio, and supports the musicians who participate as well as their communities.   These musicians also tour and play benefit concerts to share their music and their call to be charitable, aware, and collaborative.

You can see them in Southern California this month!

Oct 27 in Los Angeles at the Wilshire Ebell

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.

Love 101

Remember paint-by-numbers?  Contemporary artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher have reinvented that strategy of art-making with their project Learning To Love You More.  Anyone and everyone is invited to act as an artist and contribute by completing numbered assignments and posting photo, video and journal reports of their experience online.  July and Fletcher built their assignments to simply “guide people towards their own experience,” such as:

#2. Make a neighborhood field recording.

#15. Hang a windchime on a tree in a parking lot.

#30. Take a picture of strangers holding hands.

#36. Grow a garden in an unexpected spot.

Not only does this project directly insert mindfulness and personal reflection into our busy and distracted lives, many assignments ask us to engage positively with others, and overall it uniquely yields a community of viewers who are also artists.  Some assignments are delightful, some are contemplative, and some are remarkably meaningful.

This clip shows Miranda July working with the 8-12 year olds at 826LA East to complete assignment #62: Make an educational public plaque.  Topics chosen by students include, “How to dance”, “How to Be Optimistic,” and “How to feed a dog.”  Their educational plaques were then posted on Sunset Boulevard.

The only bad news in all of this good happening:  After 8 years and over 8,000 participants, LTLYM has finally closed it’s website to submissions.  The assignment now (with all their inspiration as a guide) is up to you!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.