‘Small Island Big Song’ film highlights climate challenges in free stream April 23–30
“In our globalized, computerized world, music can bring us awareness of who we are, our history and our values, and our connection to nature. I bring what my grandfather poured into me,” said Rapa Nui-based musician Yoyo Tuki.
More than 100 artists representing 16 island nations in the Pacific and Indian oceans unite for the musical cinematographic event “Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic Songline.”
Watch the film beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 23. It will be available for streaming until 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 30. Find more information about watching the film.
Contributions from the members of the Center for the Performing Arts and a grant from the University Park Student Fee Board help make the program free of charge.
The program is part of the Center for the Performing Arts 2020–2021 “Up Close and Virtual” season. The presentation also is part of the “The Reflection Project,” funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Learn more about the project.
“Small Island Big Song” is a multiplatform project founded by Taiwanese producer BaoBao Chen and Australian music producer Tim Cole. They spent more than three years documenting artists in communities at the forefront of the climate crisis.
Watch a trailer for the film
In addition to raising awareness of environmental issues facing island nations, the project explores a migration theory that seeks to establish musical links between cultures and accentuates similarities in regional instruments, voices and rhythm. More than 100 musicians represent waterfront countries facing climate-related challenges, including Madagascar, Borneo, Tahiti, Bali, Guam, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Taiwan.
The live touring production of “Small Island Big Song,” including an artist residency, is scheduled for the center’s spring 2022 season.
Related Earth Day engagement event
The Center for the Performing Arts and Penn State’s Sustainability Institute will partner to host an artist featured in “Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic Songline” in an Earth Day panel discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22. The free public event will be available via the Zoom conferencing app and will be followed by an open Q&A and short performances by the artists.
Learn more and register for the panel discussion.
Spoken-word artist Selina Leem, of the Marshall Islands, will discuss ocean conservation, environmental justice, the consequences of climate change, and the role the arts can play in creating change. She will also perform a spoken-word piece.
Geisinger and Northwest provide support for virtual presentations by the Center for the Performing Arts.
Find details about forthcoming “Up Close and Virtual” events.