Artists for the Poles

Art and science can work beautifully, as evidenced by the Polar Artists Group (P.A.G), an international group of artists from all mediums working together to bring awareness of the polar regions. The P.A.G. is a not-for-profit society of polar artists who believe "Scientists Discover, Artists Interpret, and Together We Can Open the Eyes of the World." There's no better way to understand the polar regions than by being able to see the changes affecting the area's environment and wildlife.

At the P.A.G.'s website you'll find profiles of all current members, who run the gamut from photographers and painters to musicians, filmmakers, writers and educators. They hail from Canada, the U.S., Europe and South America. The site's galleries showcase members' work and features updates on current and future projects and initiatives, such as Argentine artists Maria Alvarado and Adriana M. Dos Santos multimedia installation themed around both poles. The project focuses on a "cultural exchange among the younger generations of the Tierra del Fuego province. To that effect we made up a multidisciplinary group, composed of freelance artists and teachers from the provinces of Tierra del Fuego, Rˆ‚o Negro, Chaco and Buenos Aires."

Image Source: NOAA

And of course there's many examples of artwork created by the P.A.G.'s members, always with an eye on raising awareness on polar science and encouraging public awareness. Part of that mission is education. Their Teacher's Corner will link teaching artists and scientists to local communities. The group is also working on providing curriculum material and contests for schools.

Image Source: NOAA

The Polar Artists Group links directly with International Polar Year. One of the group's upcoming artistic and scientific initiatives is a partnership with IPY and Arctic Quest. The P.A.G. will travel aboard an ice-breaker in 2008 to visit the first site of International Polar Year at Fort Conger. The trip's objective is to learn how climate change has affected our planet. Although this voyage takes a look back at early polar history, it's clear that the P.A.G. is taking action today to ensure the region's future.