Fort Frances Museum curator Sherry George says their new exhibit is long past due.
“It was time to do something around climate change,” she explained to the Times yesterday.
“We all know something about it, but I think we dont see a whole lot in the newspapers or, you know, just on the world stage,” adedd George.
The museum’s newest exhibit, “Taking Back our Natural World,” is set to open this evening, and features a selection of images that are aimed at making people think about the long-lasting impacts of their economic choices.
“I don’t think anybody fully understands their impact on third world countries,” George said.
“I think that is the issue that we need to address, is getting people to start looking at what their carbon footprint is, and what they can do to start mitigating some of that,” she added.
To that end, George said they reached out to someone with experience in both museums and documenting climate change. The museum reached out to Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, whose work is primarily focused on the impact industry has on nature.
“He’s actually done a photographic art show at three of the leading world museums,” George explained.
“It’s all running at the same time, and he’s allowed us to use 20 of his photos,” she added.
The museum also put out a call to local artists to contribute to the show as well, seeking out artwork that George said highlighted “the impact of climate change on our world.”
She said that the pieces they did receive have been judged, with the winners to be announced during the opening tonight.
George noted the issue of climate change is one that people might not like thinking about, but is necessary to confront. The artwork is meant to make people examine their habits and choices, and what they can do to change.
“There’s a lot of information out there, it’s actually overwhelming,” she explained.
“It’s actually very scary when we think that we are killing our world, and we only have one,” added George.
The opening reception for the exhibit is set to run from 4-6 p.m. at the museum, and George invited everyone to attend the event.
“I hope people will come out and learn something, we all need to be learning more about this,” she said.
“It’s probably the most important issue we’re facing today in the world,” added George.
“Taking Back our Natural World” will run through June 22.
