Glenn Clark and Peter Corbett: Abandoning Paradise, The Northern Gateway Project
Curated by Jessica Demers
Over the course of a year, Glenn Clark (Penticton) and Peter Corbett (Winlaw), will travel across northern BC, painting landscapes which would be impacted by the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The paintings will be shown alongside pertinent information about the region and the scope of the pipeline project.
This spring Clark and Corbett travelled in an old Chevy Utility van, which doubled as a plein air painting studio, outfitted with an upper deck for capturing more expansive views of their surroundings. The van was painted with a mural and dubbed The Grey Whale.
Throughout their journey, they have met many First Nations peoples being affected by the controversial project, and witnessed the landscapes that may be at risk, including salmon bearing rivers and the treacherous seas around the Great Bear Rainforest and Kitimat Harbour. Soon the pair will set off on the last leg of their journey for winter painting.
Glenn Clark received his BFA from the University of Calgary in 1991, and has exhibited his work throughout BC and in Calgary, as well as completing several mural projects.
About this project, Clark states: “I feel a great sense of urgency to visit the many sensitive sites in BC’s northern region and to document their current state. My work will illustrate the grandeur of this geographic area and as a worse case scenario, act both as a record and a reminder of a pre-pipeline landscape”.
Peter Corbett is a fish biologist and a self taught painter, and has exhibited his work for the past 7 years throughout BC as well as Calgary and Edmonton. Corbett states: “As a fish biologist, I feel the government and resource industries do not take scientific evidence adequately into account in their decision making process. maybe as an artist I will have a better chance to reach out to more people and help change the way we view our landscape and its resources”.
