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“Learning How to Fall” premiere of a film about Charlie Murphy and his journey with ALS

  • Whidbey Island Center for the Arts 565 Camano Avenue Langley, WA, 98260 United States (map)

with Nic Askew, filmaker

The premiere of “Learning How to Fall”, a short film about Langley resident Charlie Murphy and his journey with ALS, followed by a demonstration of the filming process with the filmmaker, will be presented at WICA.

Nic Askew’s new film, “Learning How to Fall: Bearing Witness to the Deep and Visceral Experience of a Devastating Illness”, sets out to capture the vast and meaningful depth of two lives facing the unexpected and devastating effects of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). These two courageous souls, Charlie Murphy and Eric Mulholland, are beloved members of the South Whidbey community. 

Charlie Murphy is internationally known for his groundbreaking work incorporating creativity into youth development. He co-founded and directed a global youth program called Partners for Youth Empowerment (PYE Global - www.pyeglobal.org) with Langley resident Peggy Taylor. Eric Mullholland, Charlie’s husband, is an actor and acting teacher who has played many roles locally and in Seattle. Eric is walking through the journey of Charlie’s illness as his closest companion and primary caretaker. 

Filmmaker and poet Nic Askew travels the world working with organizations, foundations, and individuals to help them express the depth of their humanity and passion for life. “In my ‘soul biographies’, I have set out to capture the soul of the human race in all of its shades and from all four corners so that we might see ourselves reflected in each other”, says Askew. “My films serve as an opportunity to truly wonder about the experience of our own lives.”  A trailer for the film is at: www.nicaskew.com/collection/learning-how-to-fall

Tickets: Free, open seating
Donations will be accepted for the Charlie Murphy Healing Fund
Doors open at 6:30
WICA wine bar reception following the show

 

Earlier Event: June 25
One-Act Fest Northwest 2016: Conversations
Later Event: July 19
White Christmas

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts would like to begin by acknowledging that we gather on the ancestral homelands, originally known as Tscha-kole-chy (SHA-KOL-CHI) in Lushootseed (LU-SHOOT-SEED), of the Coastal Salish Peoples, on the lands of the lower Skagit, Tulalip (tuh·lay·luhp), Swinomish (SWIN-ə-mish), Snohomish (snō-hō-mish), Stillaguamish (still-uh-GWAH-mish), and Suquamish (soo-kwah-mish), who have lived in the Salish Sea basin since time immemorial and have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands.

We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water.

Please join us in expressing our deepest respect and gratitude to the indigenous people of this territory and for their enduring care and protection of the land in which we currently occupy and share through the Treaty of Point Elliott signed by 82 tribes in Múckl-te-óh (Mukilteo) on January 22, 1855.