NASA is gearing up to launch a mission that will send humans, including a Canadian astronaut, to the moon for the first time in over fifty years. The upcoming Artemis II mission is set to take off next week, with four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hanson, embarking on a 10-day journey around the moon. While the spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface, it will carry out surveillance, testing, and experiments in preparation for future missions, such as Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the moon.
Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner is commemorating this mission with a new song titled “Touch the Sky.” The accompanying music video for the song was directed, filmed, and edited by Thunder Bay-born filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick, who described the opportunity as her own version of a “Kubrick moment.”
The music video was shot in various locations, including Belluz Farms near Thunder Bay and Sarnia, featuring Gryner performing on a piano. Gryner shared that the song was inspired by her friendship with Catherine Hansen, Jeremy’s wife, and the idea of creating a piece to honor his upcoming lunar mission.
The collaboration between Petrick and Gryner allowed them to bring their creative visions to life, incorporating footage from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Hansen’s training into the video. Gryner expressed her satisfaction with the final product, emphasizing that the focus was on celebrating Hansen’s work rather than her personal appearance.
Proceeds from the song “Touch the Sky” will be donated to the Bluewater Health Foundation in Sarnia. The project not only showcases the talent and collaboration between Petrick and Gryner but also highlights the excitement surrounding Canada’s involvement in the upcoming lunar missions.