Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Top of the World: Paintings and Artist’s Books from the Arctic by Ken Leslie On Display at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, VT, USA: July 7th, 2007 until January 27th, 2008  (Top of the World)

Outline
This exhibition combines the Arctic artwork of Ken Leslie with the environmental expertise of the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium for an unusual look at the top of the planet—both beautiful and informed! During the past ten years, Ken Leslie has produced paintings and artist’s books on the theme of the movement of light and time in the Arctic. He has made many trips, both summer and winter, to a variety of Arctic sites--including Akureyri, Iceland; Kotzebue, Alaska; Longyearbyen, Svalbard; and most recently, Iqaluit, Nunavut. “Initially my interest was in the light at the Arctic extremes—where daylight and darkness give a first hand experience of Earth’s tilt and its place within the Solar System. But as I have built up a growing portfolio of Arctic work, I understand that I’m also creating a visual record of the Arctic. We now know that the Arctic serves as a canary for global climate change. Unlike the American population, no one I met in the Arctic argues about whether or not Global Warming is happening. They see it every year as the fjords freeze later and thaw out earlier. Even under the spell of the dark world of ice, rock and stars, it’s not possible to forget what we southerners are doing to our planet.” In addition to the acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings of the Arctic landscape, Leslie specializes in his unique circular accordion-fold book structure that allows for images to move through space and time. This is ideal for depicting the movement of the sun (or the winter night sky) through a 24-hour cycle. The exhibition is also accompanied by text contributed by the Fairbanks Museum’s staff meteorologist Steve Maleski, who brings a scientific accuracy to Leslie’s visual observations for a fully rounded view of the Arctic landscape. Fairbanks Museum Educator Bobby Farlice-Rubio is preparing a series of reinforcing public programs that will reach thousands of visitors and schoolchildren.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Our goal is to educate the public about the nature of life and light in the Arctic, as well to inform them about the great changes already taking place because of climate change. The “Top of the World” exhibit is designed to showcase the geographical, astronomical, meteorological, and of course, aesthetic concepts that converge beautifully on the Earth’s Arctic region. All four of the IPY “Urgencies” will be substantially addressed in this exhibit: Changing Snow & Ice, Global Linkages, Neighbours in the North, and Discovery. The IPY Themes from the Framework Document most strongly addressed in this exhibit are: 1,3,5, & 6

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Artist Residency grants from the Gilsociety of Akureyri, Iceland; a residency invitation from the Kunstnersenter of the Galleri Svalbard; and a grant from the Vermont Arts Endowment Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation made much of this work possible.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field work already completed: Akureyri, Iceland Kotzebue, Alaska Longyearbyen, Svalbard To be completed in May/June 2007: Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/07 – 06/07            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The exhibition of “Top of the World” will be managed by the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, U.S.A.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own support
Other sources of support

No

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

No

How will the project be organised and managed?
The display and interpretation of Ken Leslie’s work will be handled by the staff of the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is ideally suited to meet IPY’s goals for Outreach, Education, and Communication: we are visited by more than 60,000 members of the general public every year. In our education program, we teach one-hour long intensive lessons on various scientific, historical, and cultural topics to over 20,000 schoolchildren from Vermont, New Hampshire, Québec, and Ontario annually. In conjunction with “Top of the World,” the Museum will provide a variety of lessons for schoolchildren and a series of public programs, such as lectures and film screenings, for the general public. The local newspaper and television stations cover our events extensively, and many of our lectures are broadcast repeatedly on local television.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Not Applicable

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The exhibit is supported by the Highfield Foundation and Museum Corporate Members – businesses that actively contribute to the ongoing new work of the Museum.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Robert Farlice-Rubio
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
1302 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT
05819
USA

Tel: 802-748-2372, x-111
Mobile: no
Fax: 802-748-1893
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation