Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, June 27, 2008

Plight of the polar bear

A new exhibit at Burke Museum centers on photos of polar bears and their shrinking environment.

By Andrea McInnis
Herald Writer

 It may be summer in the Northwest, but an exhibit opening Saturday at Seattle's Burke Museum focuses on a colder environment -- the Arctic -- and the polar bears living there.

The exhibit, "The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World" "is as much about facing the realities of climate change in our world as it is about making a connection with one of the most beloved, endearing mammals on the planet -- the polar bear," Burke spokeswoman Julia Swan said.

Educational activities and games will give families a new perspective on everyone's favorite northern bear, Swan said. The museum's collections staff also can share more about the animals and the adaptations that enable them to survive the cold. On opening day, and throughout the exhibit, for example, visitors can closely examine the pelts of polar bears and other Arctic animals.

One game designed for children, "Journey to the North Pole," is meant to introduce the challenges travelers to the Arctic region face.

Featured photographer Steven Kazlowski will be on hand to share stories of his adventures observing polar bears, and to let visitors ask about his polar bear work and about photography in general as he leads tours of the exhibit at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

His images include mother bears with their cubs, young bears' interactions and adult bears in the process of hunting, according to press materials.

Most of "The Last Polar Bear's" 45 photos measure 20 inches by 30 inches, but some are as large as 40 inches by 32 inches. Visitors also will find interpretive text, and "Kids Panels" with fun facts and playful images for children to enjoy.

Other, more adult-oriented events, including climate change lectures, also are scheduled. At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Steven Amstrup of the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center in Anchorage will discuss the bears' behavior, and at 1:30 p.m., Cindy Shogan of the Alaska Wilderness League will talk about the politics of global warming and how it affects the bears.

Filmmaker Arthur C. Smith's documentary, "Ice Bears of the Beaufort," which runs about eight minutes long, will be shown continuously through the exhibit.

"The film should be attractive to kids, especially older ones, because it brings the photos in the exhibit to life with real polar bear footage," Swan said.

"The Burke Museum consistently engages the public in a dialogue about global environmental issues, such as climate change," she said. "Polar bears are charismatic animals that are quickly becoming the face of global warming, so this exhibit is a great way to get people's attention."

Another exhibit, "Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration," featuring the work of several wildlife photographers, will open Sept. 13 and will remain for the duration of "The Last Polar Bear," through December.

"The point of 'Arctic Wings' is to showcase the millions of birds that migrate … each year to feed and breed during the summer months," Swan said, "and to suggest the impact global warming and Arctic development have on these birds' lives."
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA