Commisions

Asphalt Orchestra: Trading Futures

For the Common Moment 2011, the Center for the Arts commissioned a new work by Asphalt Orchestra, an off-shoot of Bang on a Can, which is one of the premiere experimental music groups of our time. Trading Futures, composed by Asphalt member, Stephanie Richards, was a participatory community experience designed to physically connect students to the Feet to the Fire readings about energy assigned to them over the summer. Students where divided into groups and taught a music and performance piece using recycled materials such as tin cans, newspapers, tin foil, and fabric. Each group performed before their peers and then all of the students came together to perform the finale. With over 650 first year students in attendance, this was the largest Common Moment gathering so far.

Made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and Wesleyan's Office of Student Affairs.