Report from Aviva Gold on screening in Oracle, Arizona

The Oracle Center for the Arts was our venue for the premier screening of Symbiotic Earth in Arizona. About 40 people in our small, high desert community viewed the film with enthusiasm, attentively following the story as filmmaker John Feldman guided us through the unfolding of the scientific revolution led by Dr. Lynn Margulis.

Introducing the film Linda Leigh, scientist with the original Biosphere 2 experiment, shared her personal encounters with Margulis, recalling that Margulis wanted the initial experiment in the Biosphere to include only air, soil, water, and bacteria–no plants, no animals, no people. Quoting Emily Dickinson’s poem “Tell All The Truth But Tell It Slant”, one of Margulis’ favorite poems, Leigh prepared us to view the extraordinary brilliance of the truth that Margulis so passionately lived, explored, and taught.

After intermission, filmmaker John Feldman Skyped with us from his home in the Hudson Valley of NY. Some tough questions – both biological and personal – were asked and answered. He shared details of his process of making the film and how his world view, and consequently his behavior, changed from the experience. We were left with a profound glimpse of the complexity and mastery of bacteria in shaping the world of life, and the courage of Lynn Margulis to reach into the waters and rock the scientific boat. Thank you for the many who made this film possible.

The event, spear-headed by Aviva Gold (former neighbor to Feldman) was presented by three non-profit organizations: The Oracle Piano Society (Coralee Thompson, MD); Creative Passage: Arts to Re-Enchant People and Planet (Aviva Gold LMCW, ATR); and the Oracle Community Learning Garden: Cultivating Common Ground (Linda Leigh, PhD).