A man holding an easel in front of a fallen tree.
Michael Svob paints on the beach during an expedition sponsored and organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation to depict the biodiversity and integrated, ecological elements of the forest, intertidal, and ocean zones, and the people, flora and fauna that have lived there for thousands of years. Submitted photo3 sec.Bookmark and ShareChange text size for the storyPrintReport an errorCanmore’s Solara Resort will host an exhibition of work from more than 40 artists that took up paintbrushes and carving tools to portray Canada’s west coast.During a two-week period in June of 2012, a group of 50 renowned artists — including painter Robert Bateman and sculptor Craig Benson — travelled to the region on an expedition organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation.The exhibition, which will be in Canmore April 19-22, is in reaction to the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline by Enbridge and its international partners.“We want to raise awareness of this issue, particularly the Northern Gateway issue,” said Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s Brian Falconer. “Like two out of three British Columbians, the artists all feel that this is a really, really wrong project. It’s in a really wrong place. It’s just a place that doesn’t need or want oil tankers.”The goal of the artwork, noted Falconer, is to bring attention to the dramatic beauty and ecological diversity of B.C.’s north and central coasts that will be at risk if tankers are permitted to ship diluted bitumen through the channel.The original artworks were all donated to be part of a travelling awareness show, which begins an Alberta tour April 15 in Calgary at the Atrium of the Calgary Municipal Building.“We wanted to pick some places in Alberta where people have both a connection with nature but also an understanding of the resource issues,” said Falconer, who spent more than 20 years sailing and working along the proposed oil tanker route.“Calgary was the obvious first choice, but Canmore is a place where people really connect with nature … it’s a beautiful, beautiful part of the world.”The exhibition travelled through southern B.C. this past winter.More than 80 per cent of the artwork that will be on display, which includes a $50,000 signature bronze by Benson entitled Raincoast Bowl, has already been sold to collectors through an online fundraising auction during the B.C. tour that ran October through January.The opening event in the Theatre at Solara on April 19, beginning at 6 p.m., will feature a 22-minute documentary on the expedition entitled Reflections: Art for an Oil-Free Coast.“It’s a really powerful film,” said Falconer. “We have a question and answer period after, and the conversations have been absolutely amazing.”russ.ullyot@sunmedia.ca Reader's comments »If you already have an account on this newspaper, you can login to the newspaper to add your comments.By adding a comment on the site, you accept our terms and conditions and our netiquette rules. Local Businesses Click here to find out more! Click here to find out more!Advertise with us Contribute Send Your Scoop!Share your story, photo or video about something you've seen.Send your story Social Activity Subscription Start your day with Canmore LeaderChoose among a variety of subscription packages and stay up to date with convenient home delivery and our on the go digital e-edition.View my options E-EditionsLocal RegionalVulcan Advocate

Art for an oil-free coast comes to Canmore

By Raincoast 3 min. read

Canmore Leader,  Friday, April 12, 2013

By Russ Ullyot

Michael Svob paints on the beach during an expedition sponsored and organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation to depict the biodiversity and integrated, ecological elements of the forest, intertidal, and ocean zones, and the people, flora and fauna that have lived there for thousands of years. Submitted photo 3 sec. Bookmark and ShareChange text size for the storyPrintReport an errorCanmore’s Solara Resort will host an exhibition of work from more than 40 artists that took up paintbrushes and carving tools to portray Canada’s west coast.During a two-week period in June of 2012, a group of 50 renowned artists — including painter Robert Bateman and sculptor Craig Benson — travelled to the region on an expedition organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation.The exhibition, which will be in Canmore April 19-22, is in reaction to the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline by Enbridge and its international partners.“We want to raise awareness of this issue, particularly the Northern Gateway issue,” said Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s Brian Falconer. “Like two out of three British Columbians, the artists all feel that this is a really, really wrong project. It’s in a really wrong place. It’s just a place that doesn’t need or want oil tankers.”The goal of the artwork, noted Falconer, is to bring attention to the dramatic beauty and ecological diversity of B.C.’s north and central coasts that will be at risk if tankers are permitted to ship diluted bitumen through the channel.The original artworks were all donated to be part of a travelling awareness show, which begins an Alberta tour April 15 in Calgary at the Atrium of the Calgary Municipal Building.“We wanted to pick some places in Alberta where people have both a connection with nature but also an understanding of the resource issues,” said Falconer, who spent more than 20 years sailing and working along the proposed oil tanker route.“Calgary was the obvious first choice, but Canmore is a place where people really connect with nature … it’s a beautiful, beautiful part of the world.”The exhibition travelled through southern B.C. this past winter.More than 80 per cent of the artwork that will be on display, which includes a $50,000 signature bronze by Benson entitled Raincoast Bowl, has already been sold to collectors through an online fundraising auction during the B.C. tour that ran October through January.The opening event in the Theatre at Solara on April 19, beginning at 6 p.m., will feature a 22-minute documentary on the expedition entitled Reflections: Art for an Oil-Free Coast.“It’s a really powerful film,” said Falconer. “We have a question and answer period after, and the conversations have been absolutely amazing.”russ [dot] ullyot [at] sunmedia [dot] caReader's comments »If you already have an account on this newspaper, you can login to the newspaper to add your comments.By adding a comment on the site, you accept our terms and conditions and our netiquette rules.Local BusinessesClick here to find out more! Click here to find out more!Advertise with usContributeSend Your Scoop!Share your story, photo or video about something you've seen.Send your storySocial ActivitySubscriptionStart your day with Canmore LeaderChoose among a variety of subscription packages and stay up to date with convenient home delivery and our on the go digital e-edition.View my optionsE-Editions Local RegionalVulcan Advocate

Michael Svob paints on the beach during an expedition organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation to depict the biodiversity and integrated, ecological elements of the forest, intertidal, and ocean zones, and the people, flora and fauna that have lived there for thousands of years.

Canmore’s Solara Resort will host an exhibition of work from more than 40 artists that took up paintbrushes and carving tools to portray Canada’s west coast.

During a two-week period in June of 2012, a group of 50 renowned artists — including painter Robert Bateman and sculptor Craig Benson — travelled to the region on an expedition organized by Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

The exhibition, which will be in Canmore April 19-22, is in reaction to the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline by Enbridge and its international partners.

“We want to raise awareness of this issue, particularly the Northern Gateway issue,” said Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s Brian Falconer. “Like two out of three British Columbians, the artists all feel that this is a really, really wrong project. It’s in a really wrong place. It’s just a place that doesn’t need or want oil tankers.”

The goal of the artwork, noted Falconer, is to bring attention to the dramatic beauty and ecological diversity of B.C.’s north and central coasts that will be at risk if tankers are permitted to ship diluted bitumen through the channel.

The original artworks were all donated to be part of a travelling awareness show, which begins an Alberta tour April 15 in Calgary at the Atrium of the Calgary Municipal Building.

“We wanted to pick some places in Alberta where people have both a connection with nature but also an understanding of the resource issues,” said Falconer, who spent more than 20 years sailing and working along the proposed oil tanker route.

“Calgary was the obvious first choice, but Canmore is a place where people really connect with nature … it’s a beautiful, beautiful part of the world.”

The exhibition travelled through southern B.C. this past winter.

More than 80 per cent of the artwork that will be on display, which includes a $50,000 signature bronze by Benson entitled Raincoast Bowl, has already been sold to collectors through an online fundraising auction during the B.C. tour that ran October through January.

The opening event in the Theatre at Solara on April 19, beginning at 6 p.m., will feature a 22-minute documentary on the expedition entitled Reflections: Art for an Oil-Free Coast.

“It’s a really powerful film,” said Falconer. “We have a question and answer period after, and the conversations have been absolutely amazing.”

http://www.canmoreleader.com/2013/04/09/art-for-an-oil-free-coast-comes-to-canmore

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.

Coastal wolf with a salmon in its month.
Photo by Dene Rossouw.

Art for an oil free coastArtists For ConservationEnbridge Northern GatewaylegacyOil free coastoil tankers on the BC Coast