Fundraiser promotes environmental unity

RYKO Sophie B. Hawkins performed songs from
three of her albums at the animal rights conference on Sunday.

By Whitney Smith
Daily Bruin Contributor

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wing in Brazil cause a
hurricane in Texas? The Ark Trust’s Evening of Music and
Inspiration emphasized the interdependence of humans, animals and
the environment.

One butterfly whose environmental activism has demonstrated the
power of her wings, shared her experiences and encouraged others to
test their own wings.

Julia Butterfly Hill, barefoot and sporting a purple T-shirt
that read “do something,” passionately described her
experiences living for over two years in Luna, an old-growth
redwood in Northern California. During her tale, she engaged the
audience in a wide range of emotions from tearful sadness to
lighthearted laughter. She ended her performance with an appeal to
audience members to live as examples of their values, with the
realization that inaction is a part of the problem.

Proceeds from the evening will help orphaned and injured animals
and search dogs connected to the events of Sept. 11.

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, who has
gained recognition for flapping her own activist wings, delivered
an energetic, sexually-charged set, included songs from all three
of her albums: “Timbre” (2001), “Whaler”
(1994), and “Tongues and Tails” (1992). Besides intense
vocals, Hawkins played guitar, banjo and a drum. Interspersed
between songs were stories of her treasured gray hairs, bottled
water, and the drummer’s “angel voice.” She was
also accompanied by keyboards, guitar and bass.

In an eccentric finale of “Damn I Wish I Was Your
Lover,” Hawkins warned the audience that they might not be
old enough for the song and then stripped off her jean jacket
mid-song and wrapped it around her head as she crawled around
stage, undulating her hips. She returned to the stage for an encore
wearing a heavy coat and ski hat and told the audience to pretend
that it was winter in New York, her hometown.

Hawkins made her presence known long before she ever took the
stage. She punctuated event host Gloria Steinem’s talk with
inspired outbursts of “wow” from her seat in the
audience at the start of the evening. Clearly she was impressed by
Steinem, co-founder of Ms. Magazine, who discussed religion, life,
animals, justice and gender in her opening speech.

Ark Trust president and former Broadway star Gretchen Wyler,
appropriately dressed in an animal print dress, welcomed the
audience and described the event’s beneficiaries and
sponsors. In addition to the Ark Trust, proceeds from the evening
will help orphaned and injured animals and search dogs connected to
the events of Sept. 11 through donations to New York City’s
Center for Animal Care and Control and the American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

After the show, premium ticket holders mingled with performers
and dined on vegetarian food provided by Westwood restaurant Native
Foods and vegan desserts from Alaine’s Bakery.

The evening, in addition to being both musical and inspirational
as promised, was as much a conscience-raiser as a fund-raiser.