Arctic Re-Visions: Voyages to Greenland, 1869 & 2012

In 2012, photographer Michael Lapides joined an expedition of artists, teachers and explorers who traveled up the west coast of Greenland aboard the Wanderbird, retracing the 1869 voyage of renowned maritime artist William Bradford.

Michael’s stunning photographs of the landscape, the sea, the ice and the people of Greenland document the ways the “Arctic Regions” have endured and changed over the intervening years.

This webpage features links that allow further exploration of the subjects in Arctic Re-Visions.

More about the Wanderbird‘s voyage:

“Chasing the Light” Voyage Creates Foundation for Exhibitions

Michael Lapides’ voyage to Greenland served as research for his 2013 exhibition at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Arctic Visions: Away then Floats the Ice-Island, which explored the intersections between art, science and exploration using a variety of Bradford’s works, ranging from sketches, drawings, and some of his most well-known paintings, as well as Arctic and ethnographic collections from the Whaling Museum, other museums and individuals.

More research on Bradford and 19th century Greenland:

Tracing the Arctic Regions: Mapping 19th Century Photographs of Greenland

Greenland has been the focus of much research about the world’s changing climate. For more information, visit the following:

Waterworlds:  Natural Environmental Disasters and Social Resilience in Anthropological Perspective

As Greenlanders seek full independence from Denmark, resource exploitation is a potential source of economic wealth. Traditional Greenlandic culture may be threatened by the twin challenges of mining development and climate change:

Greenland’s Farmers Torn Over Tapping Pristine Land for Mineral Riches