 IPY
(International Polar Year) Launch in
Paris
Linda Mackey and Rachel Hazell,
who share a seat on the International
IPY Education and Outreach Committee
represented polar artists at the International
Polar Year launch March 1, 2007 at the
Palais de Decouverte in Paris.
Polar Artists Group had a display
and presentation running as part of
this event. Many scientists and guests
were very interested in the opportunities
to work together and many international
contacts were established.
Linda said she had an opportunity
to meet with smaller groups to plan
how to promote awareness of the polar
regions through education and outreach,
fundraising dinners, exhibitions, and
other events.
The launch showed the scope of interest
in the Polar regions around the world.
Polar Artists
Group Launch
The official launch of the Polar Artists
Group will be at the McMichael
Canadian Art Collection in
Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto),
in November, 2007.
The gallery has graciously their lobby
space, founder's lounge, and access
to Gallery 1, where the Robert Bateman
exhibition will be on. In addition,
they will be promoting our event in
their magazine, "Sketches".
Most exciting is that Roberta Bondar,
Canada's first female astronaut, has
agreed to speak for free. We will have
an exhibition and sale of member's work
at this time. This will be a fundraising
event. Details to follow.
Scientist Co-ordinator
Polar Artists Group welcomes Michael
Roboz as Scientist Co-ordinator,
he will do the following for Polar Artists
Group:
- advise P.A.G. on latest scientific
findings re polar regions
- arrange scientists to speak at art
conferences (Roberta Bondar will be
speaking at the launch in September)
- contact scientists involved in conferences
and ask if they would like exhibitions
to coincide
- let scientists know about artist-in-residence
opportunities -- artists can help
them fulfill outreach requirements
for their projects
- determine needs for specific scientific
projects, i.e. photographer, painter,
writer, travel requirements, expenses
paid, time length, etc. and what scientists
would want in return, i.e. story,
blog, painting and advise P.A.G. so
we can post opportunity
Administrative
Co-ordinator
Sandi Neményi
has been appointed as administrative
co-ordinator for P.A.G. With a background
in education, as a teacher-librarian,
Sandi is also a skilled handweaver and
an accomplished vocal musician. She
has been president of the New Tecumseth
and Area Arts Council (north of Toronto,
Canada), for the past three years, and
is currently on the board of the Gibson
Centre, a restored building in Alliston,
Ontario, which is about to open as an
Arts Centre.
She will be working on our newsletter,
developing the membership list, coordinating
fundraising events, and undertaking
the administration of other tasks as
they occur. Her email address is sandi.nemenyi@gmail.com.
Round Table Discussions
in Geneva
The Cerny Inuit Collection
and the Arctic Circumpolar Gateway
collaborated to organize the Round Table
Discussion "Breaking the Ice"
at the United Nations Office in Geneva,
Switzerland, on March 5th and 6th 2007.
The events marked the launch of the
International Polar Year (IPY), and
were held under the high patronage of
the United Nations Office and endorsed
by the Permanent Mission of Canada to
the United Nations Office in Geneva.
The Round Table was organized to facilitate
communication, discuss common goals
and challenges facing northerners. It
brought a diverse group of professional
communicators, government and indigenous
leaders, museum representatives and
gallery owners together to discuss effective
ways to connect Circumpolar Arctic communities
to each other and the rest of the world.
Representatives from the Permanent
Canadian Mission to the United Nations
Office and the Director of the Cultural
Committee at the United Nations Office
were also present.
Speakers included the IPY International
Coordinator for Outreach and Education,
Dr. R. Salmon; the Circumpolar Liaisons
of the Canadian Department of Indian
and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, Mr.
H. Finkler and Ms. T. Silundika-Kamanga;
the Executive Director of the Native
Communications Society in the Northwest
Territories, Mr. D. Gibson; Inuit Knowledge
Biologist from Nunavut, Mr. M. Kotierk;
the Chief of the Vuntut Gwich'in from
the Yukon, Mr. J. Linklater; the adjunct
to the President of the Museum of Quai
Branly in Paris, Mr. E. Désveaux;
President of the Tutchone Resources
and member of the Arctic Circle Indigenous
Communicators in the Yukon, Mr. J. Allen;
and the President of the IPY International
Polar Artists Group, Ms. L. Mackey.
The original program was lengthened
in order to include additional speakers
from the Yukon and Nunavut, as well
as provide adequate opportunity for
discussion. Participants from the International
community gave very positive feedback
in regards to the amount of knowledge
they gained during the two days. As
a result of this event, P.A.G. is working
on a potential exhibition in Austria,
as well as potential partnerships with
Inuit and northern groups.
Passion for the
Poles Conference
Sept 2008, Banff, Alberta, Canada
- more information to come! |
Vol
1 Issue 1 … April 2007
