News Release
Canadian artists join conservationists, First Nations, and scientists, to showcase three Yukon Rivers
May 22, 2003 – Whitehorse – Eight Canadian visual artists have been chosen to join conservationists, scientists, and members of Yukon and Northwest Territories First Nations’ communities in a project to highlight the importance of conserving three legendary northern rivers. This project, launched by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-Yukon), unites the compelling forces of art, science, local culture and first hand wilderness experience to send a visual message to Canadians through an art exhibition.
But the project begins with an expedition. Artists will first spend 18 days paddling down three of Canada’s most wild northern rivers to drive home the power of this pristine landscape and its cultural significance. Inspired by their journeys, the artists will then produce works for a touring exhibition, “The Three Rivers … wild waters, sacred places,” to be launched in 2004.
“An art exhibit is a superb way to bring the beauty and importance of this remote part of the country into the consciousness of Canadians,” explains Juri Peepre, Executive Director of CPAWS-Yukon and the leader of the Three Rivers project. “Canadians need to know that these rivers are priceless national treasures on all kinds of levels. They are part of an enormous unspoiled and globally important watershed; they support the traditional lifestyle of local communities and yet have the potential to play a key role in a future economy strongly linked to wilderness travel and wildlife conservation.”
But these rivers, located 200 kilometers south of Inuvik, are part of the immense Peel River watershed that sits near the natural gas-rich Mackenzie Delta area. The area is in a potentially lucrative oil and gas region and lies near the paths of proposed pipeline routes. Although the Bonnet Plume River has Canadian Heritage River Status, there is not a shred of real protection for any of these rivers that are considered among the best wilderness canoeing destinations in the country. Due to the current pace of development, the region is vulnerable to ecological damage before the planning has taken place to set aside key conservation areas.
The Three Rivers exhibit is a partnership of CPAWS-Yukon, Yukon Arts Centre, Yukon Conservation Society and the Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon. “The Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery is very pleased to be part of this multi-disciplinary, artistic journey down the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume rivers. The Three Rivers Journey and art exhibition is an exciting cultural event that will produce a significant body of visual art representative of the Yukon,” says Chris Dray, Executive Director of the Yukon Arts Centre.
The artists were chosen by a jury who reviewed the proposals of more than 200 applicants. The selected artists include Joyce Majiski and Jane Isakson from the Yukon, Newfoundland’s Marlene Creates, Vancouver’s Haruko Okano, Gwen Curry from BC and three Ontario artists including Ron Bolt, Ojibway artist Michael Belmore, and Ottawa’s Jose Mansilla-Miranda.
“I was very impressed by the applicants,” says Sara Diamond, director of visual arts at the Banff Centre and member of the jury. “It is a significant project in the Canadian art world because of the cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary aspect. Artists will work very differently because of the science and art component and they will be experiencing the place with the people who live there. There is also the challenging, expedition quality to it. All this can generate powerful images.”
The Three Rivers Journey begins July 22 with a send-off in Mayo and ends with a Gathering on August 7 when Elders from Ft. McPherson will travel up the Peel River by riverboat to join the paddlers for a feast. The Three Rivers … wild waters, sacred places exhibition will open at the Yukon Arts Centre October 2004 as the first stop on its tour of the North and major Canadian cities.
For more information, please contact:
Juri Peepre
CPAWS Yukon Chapter
Telephone: (867) 393-8080
E-mail: cpaws@cpawsyukon.org
About the Artists
Marlene Creates – Portugal Cove, Newfoundland / Photo Based Mixed Media Artist
E-mail: marlene.creates@nf.sympatico.ca
Marlene has explored the relationship between human experience and geography for over 20 years. Her focus has been on examining the consciousness of landscape – the way we perceive it, the way memory, language and experience shape perceptions of the landscape. Her proposed work will explore the idea of place and travel; the experience of moving across a body of water, a river and the encounters with the people in those places.
Ron Bolt – Baltimore, Ontario / Landscape / Nature Painter
E-mail: ronbolt@canada.com Web: http://www.ccca.ca/artist/bolt.html
The work of Ron Bolt has been described as photo-realism; he explores the power and strangeness of nature through looking for relationships of patterns, colour, form and detail. Bolt will use the interaction between the participants on the journey and the surrounding landscape as the main point of reference for his artwork.
Jose Mansilla-Miranda – Ottawa, Ontario / Painter
E-mail: josemansillamiranda@hotmail.com
Jose’s work has dealt with his interest in re-connecting with his psychological and symbolic memory of the ancestral memory of the Americas, awakening and expanding his conscious in harmony with nature and exploring his artistic creativity and cultural identity. His proposed work will explore the experience of the journey in an attempt to connect with the northern landscape and the fragile environment.
Michael Belmore – Minden, Ontario / Sculptor / Installation Artist
E-mail: boodles@halhinet.on.ca
Michael’s work explores the use of technology and how it has affected our relationship to nature. Belmore proposes to develop work that incorporates the Yukon landscape and images of wilderness in an urban existence.
Haruko Okano – Vancouver, British Columbia / Sculptor / Installation Artist
E-mail: harokano@direct.ca
Haruko’s current work attempts to integrate her artistic practice and daily spiritual beliefs with her love of the land. Her work has tried to make links to her struggle to become more in tune with nature and bring her artistic practice into harmony with her growing concern for the environment. Most of her artworks are installations in the form of natural detritus materials combined with selectively harvested materials. Her work also makes reference to water and incorporate projected imagery, water and kinetic apparatuses. Her proposed work will continue this investigation of materials with a focus on the northern environment.
Gwen Curry – Brentwood, British Columbia / Installation Artist
E-mail: gwencurry@shaw.ca
Gwen’s work has been exploring the environment as subject matter with a focus in the flora and fauna both living and extinct. Curry will explore the experience of the journey, the interaction of the participants and how issues of the environment.
Jane Isakson – Whitehorse, Yukon / Painter
E-mail: jane.isakson@yt.sympatico.ca
Jane’s current body of work has focused on the northern landscape and the migration patterns of wildlife throughout the region of the Yukon. Her approach will be developing a body of work that promotes an awareness, appreciation and protection of this fragile northern ecosystem.
Joyce Majiski – Whitehorse, Yukon / Printmaker / Mixed Media Artist
E-mail: jmajiski@internorth.com Web: http://dawsonarts.com/~jmajiski
Joyce’s artwork has focused on environmental change through her work as artist, biologist, naturalist and guide. Majiski makes use of several media including hand made paper, print and natural objects to re-create environments. Her proposed artwork will investigate the relationship to landscape and journey and the language defining sense of place.
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