Arts

Exhibitions

Events

Artists

Residency

SPACE Studios

Kindling Fund

Ideas

About

Reader

Calendar

Donate

Arts

Artists

Ideas

Calendar

Menu Close

Blackfish

INFO
Friday, August 9 2013
7:00PM
 
 

Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000-pound orcas, or “killer whales,” soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with their trainers. Yet, in our contemporary lore this mighty black-and-white mammal is like a two-faced Janus—beloved as a majestic, friendly giant yet infamous for its capacity to kill viciously. Blackfish unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who—unlike any orca in the wild—has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what exactly went wrong?

Shocking, never-before-seen footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca’s extraordinary nature, the species’ cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades, and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry. This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals.

The Friday night screening will be followed by a live video Q&A with John Hargrove, a former Sea World trainer who is featured in the film.

✨🎷 23 musicians from 17 countries converge on SPACE on October 12th! Come one, come all to OneBeat, a program launched by Bang On A Can. All proceeds benefit SPACE – it’s a real think globally, act locally situation!