The ShowRoom Sponsors “A Sense of Wonder” Screening
The ShowRoom, Asbury Park’s new, independent cinema and multi-purpose venue, today announced its special, community screening of “A Sense of Wonder” on May 27, 2009. The ShowRoom’s sponsorship of the environmental-advocacy event will benefit Asbury Park’s The Bike Church, a nonprofit organization that endeavors to enrich the lives of Asbury Park’s families through a youth-and-neighborhood empowerment program. All proceeds from the May 27 event will benefit The Bike Church.
The ShowRoom’s participation in the 150 city tour of “A Sense of Wonder” is part of a collaborative, nationwide campaign that was sponsored by the National Women’s History Project and President Barack Obama. The tour’s mission is to honor women leaders of the environmental movement, giving particular focus on the pioneering efforts of Rachel Carson, whose groundbreaking, 1962 book “Silent Spring” helped launch the modern environmental movement.
“Opportunities to sponsor benefit screenings like “A Sense of Wonder” are an important aspect of The ShowRoom’s presence in Asbury Park,” said Nancy Sabino, co-owner of The ShowRoom. “When Ocean Grove resident, and environmental advocate, Una McGurk approached us about screening “A Sense of Wonder,” Michael Sodano and I felt it was an opportunity to simultaneously support a film and organization that are relevant to many issues in our community – and in need of support and advocacy.”
Directed by Christopher Monger, the 55-minute, documentary-style film examines the last year of environmentalist Rachel Carson’s life. Actress Kaiulani Lee brings to light Carson’s never-ending fight for environmental justice, chronicling her battles against the chemical industry, the government and the press in order to get her message out to Congress and the American people. The film is an intimate and poignant reflection of a very private woman who was thrust into the mainstream by her convictions, emerging as one of America’s most successful advocates for the natural world.
The May 27 screening will include a special appearance by Peter Montague, co-founder and director of Environmental Research Foundation (E.R.F.) in New Brunswick, NJ. Montague edits the newsletters Rachel’s Environment and Health News, which help provide community activists with technical information about human health, chemical contamination and more. In addition to Montague, Pat Betty, founder of the Asbury Park-based, nonprofit organization, The Garden of Joy will speak at the special, benefit screening.
“A Sense of Wonder” will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at The ShowRoom. Tickets are currently being sold online for $10.00 and will be available for pickup on night of the event. Tickets will be available for purchase at The ShowRoom on the evening of May 27 for $15.00. Seating is limited and supporters are encouraged to buy tickets in advance at www.theshowroomap.com/BuyTickets.htm. All proceeds will be donated to The Bike Church, a 501c3, nonprofit organization.
In addition to Asbury Park, “A Sense of Wonder” has been screened in more than 150 cities nationwide including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Madison, Wis. and Belfast, Maine.
To learn more about the May-27 screening, please visit www.theshowroomap.com target= or call 732-502-0472. To learn more about Rachel Carson, please visit www.asenseofwonderfilm.com.
About The ShowRoom
Opened in April 2009, The ShowRoom is both an independent film theater and a multi-purpose venue located at 708 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ. In addition to screening critically acclaimed, independent, classic, foreign, family and festival-winning film, The ShowRoom endeavors to provide the community with a versatile space for business meetings, art openings, live performances, book signings and more. Owners Michael Sodano and Nancy Sabino are film-industry veterans with more than 25 years of experience in creative communications for corporate productions. With The ShowRoom, first-rate cinema is becoming yet another component in Asbury Park’s growing downtown arts community. For more information, or to learn about film screenings, please visit www.theshowroomap.com or call 732-502-0472.
About The Bike Church
Founded by Monmouth County resident Kerri Martin, The Bike Church is a bicycle-advocacy project that recycles bikes and utilizes them as part of a youth-and-neighborhood empowerment program. Every Monday between 4 and 7 p.m., Asbury Park youth come together to learn how to fix bikes, ride bikes and learn about safety issues related to riding bikes. The program’s greater mission is to provide an outlet for positive character development through productive and supportive learning environments. To learn more about The Bike Church, or to become a volunteer, please visit www.thebikechurch.org.
About the Garden of Joy
Asbury Park’s The Garden of Joy is a nonprofit organization committed to helping meet the needs of inner-city areas, including nutritional enhancement and educational enrichment for local youth. By linking gardening to botany, nutrition, environmental care and career possibilities, the community organization aims to produce healthier, more-active and environmentally aware children. Today, The Garden of Joy harvests community gardens in a variety of Asbury Park locales. To learn more about The Garden of Joy, please visit www.thegardenofjoy.org.
About Una McGurk
Ocean Grove, NJ resident Una McGurk is a local environmental activist. In addition, she is the Director of the Religious Education program at Holy Spirit Church in Asbury Park, and also works at Cookman Ave.’s Twisted Tree Café. Ms. McGurk believes it is vital to maintain a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world, and that communities as a whole must do their part in protecting the environment. Her commitment and dedication to this philosophy helped make the “A Sense of Wonder” screening possible; she played an integral role in bringing the community event to fruition.
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