One Ocean update Jan 2020
Sadly it seems that the misfortunes OOE experienced have been too great for the company to survive. At least for the time being, the office is closed and no trips to Antarctica have taken place. I hope they can recover but it seems unlikely😥
Antarctica-Bound!! (Left turn instead of right)
How about joining us on @One Ocean Expeditions Antarctic Peninsula Adventure Dec 1-11, 2019? Tons of different wildlife, I’m super excited to get to know all the varieties of penguins in particular.
Update Nov 22, 2019. Sadly, we’ve had to cancel. One Ocean Expeditions is having serious financial woes and 3 trips have been cancelled. Dec 1 might still happen but it’s too uncertain. Maybe another year!
Darn geopolitics .. can our Canadian Arctic survive?
Incredibly, in May, the Russian government persuaded the Russian owners of the Akademik Ioffe and the Akademik Vavilov to break their contract with One Ocean so they could add these ships to their fleet in the Arctic. With my art supplies still on board! Shall I take it up with Mr Putin? One Ocean has another better ship, the Resolute, (NOT Russian!) to use this summer, but it was already fully booked up. They are acquiring other ships as well. So … this amazing art trip may be sliding into 2020. I’m going to start studying penguins in case another option arises, although the CANADIAN NORTH has strong appeal to me.
One Ocean Expeditions upcoming Baffin Island trip .. a Q and A with me
We will soon be welcoming Canadian artist Doria Moodie onboard our Canadian Signature Experience, Baffin Island – Jewel of the High Arctic voyage, July 22nd – Aug 02. Doria is represented by Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont in Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Stratford where much of her work is displayed. As our onboard Artist-in-Residence, Doria will be leading art programming through workshops onboard and in the field, in presentations and through personal conversations. Budding artists of all abilities will be assisted in creating their own interpretations of the landscapes, people and wildlife of the Arctic. We caught up with Doria to find out what she is looking forward to most about this voyage.
OOE: We’re thrilled that you will be joining us on our Baffin Island – Jewel of the High Arctic voyage. What are you most looking forward to about this Canadian Signature Experience trip?
I love wild places, discovery and adventure. So I’m looking forward to that of course, but also to seeing and documenting the wildlife and landscapes through art. Also, I really enjoy people and look forward to meeting everyone on board and in the communities we visit.
OOE: You will be the artist-in-residence onboard. What will this entail?
It will depend on weather and the passengers’ interests, but I expect I”ll be focused on making my own art and on helping others with their artistic aspirations. I’ll have a number of activities for passengers to try, from print-making to animal portraits to painting landscapes, icebergs etc. I also enjoy portraiture if we have willing subjects.
OOE: How will our guests benefit from being onboard with you?
I’ll be a resource to inspire them, supply materials and help them make their own art as a special memory of their trip.
OOE: What subjects in the Arctic are you most excited to capture artistically?
Wildlife, but also landscapes. Perhaps people.
OOE: You are a strong advocate of bears in BC. What interests you in particular about these mammals?
Their intelligence and their need for our support to survive human encroachment and climate change. I feel we must show far more respect to our fellow animals on Earth. I’m on the Grizzly Bear Foundation Board and will be happy to show slides and talk about grizzlies and the Great Bear Rainforest.
OOE: What is your favourite artwork to date and why?
That’s a tough question! I always love the one I’m working on. But here’s a grizzly portrait I love, titled Respect (see below). It feels, to me, like she is in communication with the viewer. And a polar bear painting, titled Nanuk, aka God’s Dog. (based on a photo from Kevin Lamb, on an OOE trip last year) Okay, I have to include a landscape too! It’s titled Forest Magic. I find it tranquil and uplifting.
OOE: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Do you have any other comments?
Only that I am very excited and honoured to have been invited to be the Artist-in-Residence on this trip!
Baffin Island- Jewel of the Arctic with One Ocean Expeditions July 22-Aug 2, 2019
Want to join me to explore and make some art on this wonderful voyage? Contact One Ocean Expeditions https://www.oneoceanexpeditions.com/canadian-arctic-greenland/baffin-island-jewel-of-the-high-arctic
The Best Laid Plans ....
.. gang aft aglay, as our Scottish neighbours used to say. First trip to the arctic was cut short by an unforeseen event, but I hope to return soon as it was very captivating!
Ready, set ... COLD!
Getting organized for my upcoming trip as artist in residence aboard One Ocean Expeditions' Akademik ioffe in Nunavut. The ice is still thick in some areas we expect to visit. What an adventure!!