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The Next Big Thing / December 16, 2005

The Next Big Thing

Friday, December 16, 2005
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  • Motorcycle Symphony ( Henrik Montgomery)
    Motorcycle Symphony ( Henrik Montgomery)

    Playing and Praying

    We profile a married couple who sustain their relationship by playing games. Also, the sound of one hundred motorcycles playing a symphony, as well as cellist Erik Friedlander playing in collaboration with writer Michael Greenberg. On the prayer front, we offer a search for the eleventh amendment, and a sound collage of fifteen places of worship by sound artist Ellen Band.

Homeward Bound

Teddy British dog owner Julia Faulkes describes the amazing recovery of her lost Norfolk Terrier, Teddy.

» More on Teddy

High Tech High Art

Jakob​ Jakob Boeskov is not a weapons dealer. But two summers ago, he and his artist friends came up with a project that took him deep into the heart of the international weapons trade, armed only with fake business cards and a poster of the most terrible weapon he could imagine – the "ID Sniper Rifle." His experiences at China Police 2002, which he shares with host Dean Olsher, formed the basis of a traveling art exhibit. Produced by Julie Subrin and Pejk Malinovski.

» Find out about Boeskov’s latest project
» Click here to view a larger picture of Jakob
» Jakob Boeskov's website
» China Police 2002 report

Motorcycle Symphony

Swedish sound artist Staffan Mossenmark composed a symphony for one hundred Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Not quite the classical ensemble, the orchestra was comprised of performers clad in sunglasses and black leather jackets, who lined up in the Stockholm Town Square, each playing their "instruments" according to Mossenmark’s direction. Produced by Pejk Malinovski.

Playmates

Cube Maze We all know couples who have taken steps to, as they say, "stop playing games" in their relationship. Blake Eskin introduces us to a couple, John McCallion and Robin King, who choose the opposite approach. They’ve made games their life. Produced by Emily Botein.

» Play one of John’s own games

Eleventh Commandment

Feeling alienated from the younger members of their flock, England’s Methodist Church and Ship of Fools decided to hold a contest for a new commandment, in the hope of raising awareness about the other ten. We sent independent producer Jane Farrow onto Chicago’s streets to find out how people there would meet the challenge.

Portals of Prayer

Ellend band Blurring the boundary between state and religion, sound artist Ellen Band recorded sound in fifteen places of worship over the course of a year and arranged them into an extended work that played in several public spaces in Boston. The piece, excerpted here, was commissioned by the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art.

Home Alone

What happens when an older-than-average father is left alone with his four-year-old-son for two weeks? Writer Michael Greenberg recounts the memorable experience in a Next Big Thing-commissioned collaboration between Greenberg and cellist Erik Friedlander. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.

» Listen to his recent contribution to the Next Big Thing, "Words into strings"
» Visit Erik Friedlander's website