GEOLOGY and ART: D.T. James

As a field geologist, I try to construct a geological model linking process, time and space. It is a model that attempts to explain the Earth I see and a former Earth I can only imagine. The model is built on a foundation of observations that vary from the scale of mineral grains to the broad expanse of the landscape.

In everything I see in the field, at every scale, I am impressed by colour, shape, and texture. Although my goal is to make consistent and scientific observations, I appreciate the influences of factors such as light, the angle of the sun, the wetness of a surface, and my imperfect memory on my impressions of colour, shape and texture.

A bedrock geologic map is a portrait of the Earth; it is a factual representation of a collection of observations, and of sometimes equivocal interpretations. It is designed to be a scientific document. Nonetheless, it is a personal vision of the Earth essentially founded on an appreciation of colour, shape and texture.

A landscape artist creates a portrait of the Earth inspired by colour, shape and texture - variations of the identical observations I use to create a geologic map. Like a geologic map, a painting contains a factual collection of observations, but also of very personal interpretations. Where I attempt to produce a scientific portrait, a landscape artist presents a spiritual vision of the Earth.

The Visiting Artist Program

For three weeks in 2005, Christine Koch was the C-NGO Visiting Artist on the North Baffin Project. Christine is a visual artist from St. John's , Newfoundland , and has previously been a visiting artist with the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Gros Morne National Park , the Geography Department, Memorial University, and Leighton Artist Studios Residency, The Banff Centre.

The resulting body of work from the 2005 program will be displayed in public and private galleries. In addition, a collection of pieces will be highlighted in a show at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in Iqaluit (April and May, 2007). The opening of the show is scheduled to coincide with the 2007 Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit.

The Visiting Artist Program will provide a unique record of CNGO activities, the geology and landscape of the North Baffin region, and build our collective heritage.

We would like to acknowledge the generosity of De Beers Canada for sponsoring Christine's travel from St. John's to Pond Inlet.