Perhaps one of the most visible examples of our impact on the earth in our insatiable quest for energy, the Tar Sands of Northern Alberta are a powerful reminder of a planet in peril.
Recently, Ottawa-based photographer, Louis Helbig, flew over the Tar Sands in a small aircraft and captured on camera the vast expanse of human activity in that area. The view from the neutral skies that his plane effortlessly glided through created quite a contrast to the reality below. At times looking serene, even beautiful, from his elevated vantage point, the landscape that Helbig documents through his photographs is stunning, yet sombre; he hopes the images spark interest and public discussion on the issue of the Tar Sands.
Upcoming Shows
- Ottawa Art Expo – 50 of Ottawa’s best artists displaying work for sale. Sat Oct 31 & Sun Nov 1 10AM-5PM. St. Elias Centre 750 Ridgewood Avenue, Ottawa (near Mooney’s Bay).
- University of Ottawa Green Weeks – Campus exhibition at Café Alt. November 2 – 14, 2009. Vernissage Wed November 4, 2009 7PM
- Frederic Remington Art Museum – International Juried Art Exhibit. November 7, 2009 – January 16, 2010. Vernissage Sat November 7th, 2009 2PM-4PM. 303 Washington St., Ogdensburg, NY, USA.
Baseball diamonds
Bitu-man
Open pit Bitu-man mine
Slag piles
Top-soil removal
For more information please visit his exhibition website.
[via Greenr]
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What they are doing looks like a scene from Saruman’s workshop in Lord of the Rings.
I’ve had fun looking around Fort McMurray in Google Maps. It is quite horrifying to see the impact on the landscape, but cities are not so different. At least this land used to extract the oil sands will eventually be reclaimed to something resembling its initial state. The land in modern cities will be lost for millenia.
By: greengrift on November 3, 2009
at 3:47 pm