Instinct and Extinct
When your home is changing, how do you stick to your life's purpose?
Multidisciplinary artist Dominique Francis Grogan explores this concept from the perspective of some of America’s most critically endangered species: the Whooping Crane (Grus americana), the Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and the ʻĀkohekohe (Crested Honeycreeper). This show is completely self-produced by the artist, with compelling alternative music production and provocative arias and a never-before-heard musical identity.
Dominique has a background in classically trained vocal performance which is seamlessly combined with the modern sound of e-voque, their musical project with over 25 releases to date. Grogan worked with naturalists to source recent field recordings of these specific animals, which became an inspiration for telling the stories of their lives and experiences in an increasingly hostile natural world.
At the center of this work is an urgent political reality. Specifically, the Trump administration has proposed redefining the word 'harm' in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, so that habitat destruction no longer legally counts as harming an endangered animal. Science is clear; destroying habitat is indirectly killing animals and entire ecosystems.
INSTINCT AND EXTINCT also touches on the still-present beauty of creatures and their habits: their musical hums, flutters, coos and calls. You will be reminded of the stunning rhythm and rhyme of mother nature. This is a cannot-miss premiere of a solo opera from award-winning experimental electronic musician Dominique Francis (aka e-voque). It is 25 minutes in length and completely performed by Dominique as a one man show. Their piece LIQUESCENT premiered last summer on Governors Island for a three-month run, also exploring climate change and animal rights.
After the event, stick around for our next event! From 2-5pm, join musician Elise Silvestri and storyteller Elise Pricer for an afternoon of reconnecting with the sounds of nature. Attune yourself to the earth in recording the ambient bird chips, wind whooshes, and afternoon laughter of Governors Island, and craft a composition reflecting the inherent musicality of nature. Explore through sonic art what it means to live in reciprocity with the earth from moment to moment, embodying your own humanity in the process.
🌍 About the Climate Imaginarium
The Climate Imaginarium is a center for climate, community, and culture in New York City. Located on Governors Island, the Climate Imaginarium is activating a cultural destination at the heart of New York City’s burgeoning green economy, where artists, scientists, advocates, and storytellers come together to reimagine and build toward a more resilient future.
Suggested donation is $10 to support our community space at the Climate Imaginarium, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
⛵ Getting to the Climate Imaginarium
For the weekend ferry schedule to Governors Island, please check here. Ferries run every 15 minutes. Take the ferry that’s most convenient for you from either Lower Manhattan (10 South Street), Brooklyn Bridge Park (Pier 6), or Red Hook/Atlantic Basin. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your ferry departure time with your ticket ready to display.
Ferry tickets must be purchased at the ferry terminal or online. Fares are $5 for a round trip ticket and free for adults over 65, children 12 and under, Climate Imaginarium summer volunteers, and others. All passengers ride free before 11am on weekends. Cars are not permitted.
Governors Island is also accessible from any route via NYC Ferry by transferring at Wall Street/Pier 11. You can find the NYC Ferry schedule here. Tickets on NYC Ferry are $4.50 each way.
Once you get to Governors Island, you will either get out at Soissons Landing (from Manhattan) or Yankee Pier (from Brooklyn). You can use this map of Governors Island to locate Colonels Row. The Climate Imaginarium is in Building 406A, in the middle of Colonels Row, and will have a visible sign outside the doorway. Our address is 406A Comfort Road.