Prepare to take a deep dive into the world of the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 magnificent orcas with the Royal BC MuseumB次元官网网址檚 much-anticipated new feature exhibition.
After a year-long postponement due to COVID-19, the visually stunning exhibition makes its global debut April 16, and continues through Jan. 9, 2022.
Diving into the stories and science that surround the magnificent orca B次元官网网址� the spirit of British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 wild coast and apex predator of all oceans B次元官网网址� admission will be by timed tickets, available from .
Through dramatic displays B次元官网网址� including three life-size orca replicas and the skeletons of Rhapsody (J32) and her unborn calf B次元官网网址� visitors will explore currents of ecological activism, popular culture and Indigenous beliefs to gain a deeper understanding of how orcas and humans are inextricably connected.
B次元官网网址淭his is a timely and challenging story B次元官网网址� and one that we are uniquely qualified to tell,B次元官网网址� says Royal BC Museum Board Chair and acting CEO Dr. Daniel Muzyka. B次元官网网址淥ur unique collections, curatorial expertise, and physical and emotional proximity to orcas and oceans combine in an edifying and ultimately hopeful experience that affirms we are all part of nature B次元官网网址� not apart from nature.B次元官网网址�
Among the 100+ artifacts on display are rare cultural objects by Indigenous artists, including an Articulated Dance Mask by Richard Hunt (Kwaguilth); an intricately carved by Bill Reid (Haida); and a specially commissioned painting by Haida manga artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas.
The exhibition is complemented by a beautifully illustrated companion publication that brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists and storytellers. The best-sellingSpirits of the Coast: Orcas in Science, Art and History ($29.95; edited by Dr. Martha Black, Dr. Lorne Hammond, and Dr. Gavin Hanke with Nikki Sanchez), is currently available through local bookshops, the Royal Museum Shop and online at .
The exhibition has been specifically designed to travel to other museums during the UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 to 2030), when possible.
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