connecting cultures through creativity
Big Planet, Small World is thrilled to partner with the musician, GULL, for the international docu-series, STREET MUSE. Inspired by a documentary film that was put together with footage from a trip to Kenya, Gull will now continue to travel and explore the idea of “music ecology”, how the environment influences the music of different regions of the world. Join us as we visit all 7 continents and connect with the locals and use music as a bridge to learn about different cultures.
Julie Pennini, Founder of Big Planet, Small World and Director of Community and Global Partners for the Richmond International Film & Music Festival partnered with Shared Studios Richmond Portal to import and export free film and music programming, from around the world, throughout the six day festival in Richmond, Virginia, USA. This year’s festival theme was BRIDGES and in honor of that, attendees were offered an opportunity to connect with other portals, in real time, in cities around the world to engage and share in global conversations about film, music and art – things that have always served as a bridge for cultures, communities and individuals. Some of the highlights throughout the week were connections with refugees from Lesbos, Greece for a musical concert exchange, with Stockholm, Sweden and The Swedish Film Institute for a discussion on documentary filmmaking, with Mexico City for a jam session and with West Virginia, USA for a celebration of Appalachian music. There were also plenty of opportunities for one on one discussions and conversations that started with this idea of a mutual connection through the arts, but eventually led to magical places and exchanges that no one could have imagined. The Portals offer a unique and profound way to connect with others and offer an important world view from the smallest of spaces.
London, ENGLAND
To truly understand street art, you must visit London’s East End. While graffiti is revered as an art form to some, it is often seen as an unwanted nuisance by others. While vibrantly rich in history, graffiti has a controversial past, present, and future that will likely continue to be the subject of debate, especially with the insurgence of street art, an art form that often overlaps graffiti art in subject matter, media, aesthetic appearance, and placement as a public form of art. Introducing non-traditional forms of art that are engaging, especially to young people, street art and graffiti art can help them become more cognizant of current social, visual and cultural aesthetics in their own visual world.
Big Planet, Small World had the opportunity to meet with several street artists in London and learn techniques and express ourselves through this urban art form.
September 6-11, 2017
Big Planet, Small World founder, Julie Pennini, will help facilitate this exciting community discussion on travel.
Take a quick mental inventory of your bucket list. How many items on it involve travel? Of the 74 million Americans who travel abroad every year, more than half go for reasons other than business. Why do we love to travel? Is there any deeper meaning or purpose to this activity? Can travel make the world a better place and make us better global citizens? What makes a great trip and what makes a good traveler?
Just as we are sometimes visitors, we are also hosts. Richmond is a growing destination for travelers from other parts of the US and the world. How do we make visitors to our city welcome and give them a cultural experience beyond the city’s parks and historical sites?
Join us at HI Richmond Hostel on August 30th for a discussion of traveling beyond borders: physical, cultural, and personal. We will review several TED Talks on expanding perspectives of travel and join several experts to share experiences, tips, and stories and explore the traveler’s mindset.
Dear Richmond is a global exhibition hosted by Big Planet, Small World. Our goal is to connect cultures and celebrate our unity while highlighting what makes us unique. This is your opportunity to show a world wide audience what you love about your city or country…to share your piece of the world with everyone.
Big Planet, Small World
Dear Richmond Project
P.O. Box 1512
Richmond, VA. 23218 USA
“Photography is the beauty of life, captured”…
As a part of my current job in the little known country of Sakartvelo (also known as Georgia) and through my organization, Big Planet…Small World, I will be leading an exciting photography project with local teenagers from this vibrant, beautiful country that straddles the borders of Europe and Asia. Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world and it, somehow, makes our planet seem a little bit smaller. Photography can give you a window into the world captured by the camera lens and sometimes it gives you a view of the heart and soul of the person behind the camera, as well. I believe that learning photography is a way to foster creativity and connection. I want the incredible, dynamic youth of Georgia to show us the world through their eyes, and to also gain skills and confidence. Through photography and digital media education, my students will show us what Georgia looks like from their unique point of view and they will become the story-tellers for their country. This project will teach students the basics of documentary photography and empower them to communicate visually and become powerful voices for their community. As a way to celebrate and share their stories, the program will culminate with two exhibitions of their work in the capital cities of Tbilisi, Georgia and Washington, D.C., USA.
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