Documentary Film Screening: Last Days of the Arctic – Jan 8

January 8, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.
Nordic Heritage Museum
FREE

Ragnar ‘RAX’ Axelsson is amongst the most celebrated photographers in the world. His acclaimed series of portraits, Faces of the North, is a living document showcasing the dying cultures of the far northern reaches of the planet: Icelandic farmers, fishermen and the great hunters of Greenland. Fascinated by stories of half-forgotten people who have adapted to extreme conditions, RAX is now documenting them as they cope with extreme climatic changes. Produced in association with BBC Storyville and filled with breathtaking visuals, Last Days of the Arctic, directed by Magnus Viðar Sigurðsson, is a celebration of an artist and his subjects, a eulogy for a disappearing landscape and its inhabitants.

The world turns its gaze toward the Arctic. Nowhere are the signs of climate change more visible; here global warming already affects the day-to-day lives of the local people. Still the circumpolar Arctic is one of the most disputed territories on Earth, with many nations laying claim to the mining and oil rights of the area as the sea ice retreats. For thousands of years the Inuit have built their communities based upon a sensitive understanding of the land and the frozen ocean, but rapid social and environmental change threatens their traditional way of life. The hunters of the North are a dying breed. This is the twilight of their society.

This screening is in conjunction with the exhibit “Imaging the Arctic” on display through February 22. Suggested donation: $5. This event is in partnership with the Icelandic Club of Greater Seattle.

http://lastdaysofthearctic.eventbrite.com