This fall, the Cleveland Public Library invites visitors to experience The BAND, an interactive art installation created by FriendsWithYou, the artist duo of Sam Borkson and Tury Sandoval. Stepping into The BAND exhibit feels like entering a world of friendly, buzzing energy within a usually quiet library space.
Five colorful robots hum, vibrate and groove around the space, each moving with its unique personality. As they whirl and interact, these robots invite you to join in, turning a typical art experience into a joyful, hands-on celebration of technology and human connection.
Borkson and Sandoval’s creative journey began in 2001 when they crossed paths in South Florida. Borkson, born and raised in Florida, and Sandoval, who moved to the U.S. from Cuba at 15, quickly found a spark in their shared vision. Together, they launched FriendsWithYou, blending their different backgrounds to create art that spreads joy and compassion. Now based in Los Angeles, Sam and Tury have spent over two decades turning their playful, uplifting vision into a global art experience.
“I think it's very important for us to create this optimistic view of technology and AI and the relationship between humans and our digital counterpart. We believe humanity is still yet to see the best version of ourselves,” Borkson explains. “There's a lot of scary things about AI, but we really feel that AI will help us to not only heal humans and get to the best solutions that we've ever come to before. This is a sweet and uplifting bridge that we're creating through the band.”
FriendsWithYou was founded 23 years ago to reimagine spirituality through the lens of fine art. He and Sandoval have collaborated to develop a new practice focused on healing art, creating communal experiences designed for the modern world.
“We've worked with LAND, the Cleveland Library and Deeplocal—these amazing engineers and coders that helped us create this experience to be as beautiful and as powerful as we possibly could get it—and it really is delightful and feels really good,” says Borkson.
Open now through spring of 2025, The BAND offers Clevelanders a rare chance to interact with technology in a way that’s not only accessible but uplifting, welcoming all ages to join in a “ballet of joy.”
Each robot in The BAND, known as a Biodigital Autonomous Neuro Dancer, is designed to connect with visitors by dancing, responding to healing frequencies and creating an immersive soundscape. Each robot moves on its own using AI technology and internal sensors, creating a playful energy that fills the room. The fluffy robots are approachable, engaging and ready to invite people to join in and dance along with them.
Each character adds its own touch: ROC, the large purple guide, emits deep, grounding sounds, while the tiny FUR darts around. LIX, the pink “flirt,” dances and sings. PMJ lights up with lively solos, and ETZ, a big yellow presence, brings a calming, meditative energy. Together, these personalities create a playful, multi-sensory experience for visitors of all ages.
“We're creating these characters that really celebrate the amazing accomplishments that humans have come to,” says Borkson. "If they can teach us to be loving and share this moment, maybe they can help us to love each other. And that's kind of our goal, to always raise the vibration."
The choice to host The BAND exhibit at Cleveland Public Library isn’t just about location, but rather, it’s a commitment to making cutting-edge art and technology accessible to everyone.
By situating the exhibit in the library, the installation is made free and open to everyone, breaking down traditional barriers to contemporary art and technology.
Here, visitors can freely experience the exhibit’s blend of art and tech, creating a community experience that feels open and inclusive. This partnership highlights the library’s mission to connect Clevelanders through creativity and learning, making The BAND not only an art installation but a shared experience designed to uplift and unite.
“One of the key things is to demystify this idea that artificial intelligence, or just robotics, is something to be afraid of,” Sandoval expresses. “This serves as a little bit of a showcasing of how technology could feel right, and is something here to aid us.”
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