Jan Kabatoff Glacier: A Journey opens September 12

August 28, 2009 - The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is pleased to host a multi-media exhibition of work by Canmore artist Jan Kabatoff. Jan Kabatoff Glacier: A Journey opens September 12, and runs through November 12, 2009.

The ephemeral nature of ice has always fascinated Jan Kabatoff, and for many years ice and water have been her metaphors for change and transformation. Increasingly, glaciers became a source of deep interest and concern for her. As global warming accelerated glacial melting rates and the implications loomed large for the planet's fresh water supply, her research on glaciers intensified.

Since 2005, she has trekked to seven different glaciers on three continents - from Alberta to Mongolia, to the southernmost reaches of South America. Her goal was to chart the impact of climate change on glaciers, and map their transformation.

The work included in Jan Kabatoff Glacier: A Journey is the culmination of that research, and she demonstrates her observations in a number of sensory ways. The multi-media installation utilizes painting, mould impressions, hand-dyed textiles, photography, and an audio symphony of global glacial voices - the voices of glaciers speaking in the murmuring of surface water, the rushing of water in mill wells, the roar of waterfalls - to create a palpable experience.

Kabatoff says, "I now understand glaciers as not only storehouses of fresh water vital to our survival, but also as sentient beings and I strive to grasp their ephemeral nature to better understand our interconnectedness with the natural world. As an artist, it is both an honour and a responsibility to stand in the presence of these disappearing icons, and be able to share this experience with others."

Exhibition-Related Events

Opening Reception
Saturday, September 12, 2009, 7 to 9 PM, Artist in Attendance

Jan Kabatoff Glacier: A Journey Artist's Talk
Sunday, September 20, 2PM, Included with admission
Join Jan Kabatoff for a presentation on her travels to the glaciers and the creative process that culminated in Glacier: A Journey.

About the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies welcomes those who are drawn to the power and inspiration of these mountains. We are the gateway for experiencing and enjoying its art, culture and history in order to inspire and cultivate knowledge and the exchange of ideas. Visitors from near and far experience the Museum's galleries, programs, archives and library, heritage homes, museum shop, guided walks, tours and special events.