Since the beginning of time, music has been a major social influence, affecting tradition and cultures around the world. Music, like most art, has the ability to transcend the barriers of race, religion, class, and poverty. But more importantly, music has the ability to bring people together to share in a common experience. Historically, in countries where there is a lack of material resources, people have invented a style of playing: rhythm on found objects. In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Found Sound is about creating exhilarating music out of material that would otherwise be thrown away. One man by the name of Jair Rezende has taken it upon himself to transform not only his community, but also the entire world through his band, LACTOMIA.

Because of the tremendous social chord this band is hitting within their community of Candeal, Jair’s relationship with the young children of Salvador can be likened to the Pied Piper. Kids flock to him, wanting nothing more than to be a part of this movement. Whereas children of other more developed countries might have access to musical instruments and education, the children of Candeal are focused on exploring the creation of sound through recycled materials. This enlightening film offers never-before-seen footage of how one community comes together through the power of music and creativity.

Documentary Running Time: 28 minutes
Performances and interviews: 85 minutes

Just as FOUND SOUNDS BAHIA showed how artists have long used the resources of their environment to create music, COLORS OF CREATIVE CULTURE, shows how the visual artists in the city of Salvador, Brazil also take what they have and turn it into a cultural mosaic on the city streets. This “street interference art” brings together the same energy and inspiration of Lactomia’s found object music by bringing paint to the people. Trained artists, teachers, community leaders, children, even the parish priest, join together to create large-scale murals on the walls of their neighborhoods. The film offers a rare insight into how bringing art to the streets includes an entire community.

Documentary Running Time: 24 minutes
Rare art and interviews: 94 minutes