Cold Lake First Nations: Damaged Spring at Blueberry Point 2011, Collection of the artist, Tanya Harnett

Directly from the Glenbow Museum Exhibition Schedule…

“Tanya Harnett is a photographer who uses her art form to explore notions of spirituality and materiality, technological modes of representation and hierarchy of media. Join Tanya as she discusses how her practice as a photographer engaged her in this curatorial process and how her own photography shaped her decision when selecting a Burtynsky photography for the exhibition.”

If you wander the internet, you will find all manner of project that Tanya Harnett has been involved with.  As guest curator for Encounters, she selected another Edward Burtynsky piece that is powerful for me, Nickle Tailings #30, Sudbury, Ontario.  Through my university-years 1973-1977, I used to travel back east by train, to visit my parents in Ontario.  I remember the view out my window, forehead against the glass window, as we journeyed early in the morning through the devastation of Sudbury’s landscape.  This was my place of birth.  This image spoke to my heart as I stood before it in the Glenbow Museum yesterday afternoon.  Thank you for selecting this particular piece, Tanya.

Nickel Tailings #30, Sudbury, Ontario Photographer: Edward Burtynsky