Saugatuck Center Ends ‘Real to Reel’

The residents of Saugatuck can kick back, relax and start the weekend a day early thanks to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. The non-profit organization is putting on an award-winning film called “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble” on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street), which will complete the SCA’s “Real to Reel” film series for the year. The film is general admission and will be $5.

“Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble” shows the evolution of The Silk Road Ensemble from its starting point, beginning with the idea of forming a group from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Traveling from Venice to central Asia to Mongolia, Yo-Yo Ma collected artists of all kinds for the ensemble.

The film follows a group of Saugatuck Center Ends ‘Real to Reel’ musicians from different geographical areas of the world who have one thing in common: a passion for the arts of all kinds. From vocalists to storytellers to instrumentalists and more, the film focuses on how the musicians use the arts to vanquish the line that divides cultures while still embracing their differences.

“This film has all of those pieces in terms of entertainment and highly professional musicians and a really wonderful story about global arts and culture,” said Kristin Armstrong, organizer of the “Real to Reel” film events at the SCA.

Throughout the film, personal stories and accounts of the members’ lives and journeys are shared to the audience to portray how they ended up where they are.

“This is an excellent opportunity to see into the world of Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (of musicians),” Armstrong said.