GlacierWorks: is pleased to present Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya for a limited engagement at Everest Base Camp (April 10 – May 10, 2012). Sponsored in part by Mountain Hardwear, the Base Camp exhibition showcases mountaineer David Breashears’ modern, high-resolution glacier imagery alongside matched archival photographs taken over the past century by some of the world’s greatest mountain photographers. The comparison starkly reveals the changes that have taken place during the 20th century.
The snow and ice stored within this resplendent arc of nearly 50,000 high-altitude glaciers are vital sources of water for the major rivers of Asia. Although the exact consequences of changing glacial melt cannot be known, any disruption to the water supply will inevitably present myriad challenges to the millions of people living downstream. Data collection in this vast and remote region is impossible for all but the most seasoned climbers, and each glacier has unique characteristics that prevent broad generalizations about the region as a whole. Nevertheless, scientists agree that there is a trend of melting beyond what can be expected to occur naturally.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of Mount Everest and the Khumbu glacier, Rivers of Ice presents visitors with a chance to admire the vast beauty of the High Himalaya while reflecting upon the profound changes taking place in this seemingly impermeable landscape. We will be promoting this event using the hashtag “#icegallery”, as well as through our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GlacierWorks ), Google+ (http://bit.ly/vNNSVV ), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/GlacierWorks ) pages.
About GlacierWorks: Founded by Executive Director David Breashears, GlacierWorks is a non-profit organization that seeks to communicate the changes to Himalayan glaciers and the resulting impact on downstream populations through art, science, and adventure. Since 2007, GlacierWorks has undertaken 10 expeditions to document the glaciers of the Greater Himalayan region, retracing the steps of pioneering mountain photographers in order to capture new images that precisely match the early photographic records. Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya has shown in Copenhagen prior to the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in 2010 at the Asia Society in New York, and in spring 2011 at the Trento Film Festival, the largest and oldest mountain film festival in Italy. In late 2011, the project opened two exhibitions: at the Royal Geographical Society in London, and at the Three Shadows Gallery in Beijing. In spring 2012, Rivers of Ice will show at the MIT Museum in Cambridge (Massachusetts, USA), a one-year exhibition whose opening coincides with the prestigious Cambridge Science Festival.
Link: http://www.glacierworks.org
For more information, please contact Rachel Hargreaves-Heald: Rachel@glacierworks.org
Press Release by Glacierworks
