Communicating Gateway Identity LAURA TAYLOR GCAS 08/09 GATEWAY ANTARCTICA Copyright © 2009 by Laura J. Taylor Submitted for ANTA 504, GCAS 08/09. Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. Images by L.. Taylor unless otherwise indicated. Table of Contents Abstract.....................................................................................................................8 Prologue: The Real-isation of Antarctica...............................................................9 The Development of Polar Research and Environmental Awareness..............10 Barriers to Developing Antarctic Awareness........................................................15 Bringing Antarctica into Popular Consciousness: Gateways to Antarctica....16 Gateways and Psychic Places.............................................................................16 Gateways for Cultivating Antarctic Awareness....................................................16 ...Through People.............................................................................................17 ...Through Place...............................................................................................19 ...Through Technology.....................................................................................21 Risks Associated with Increasing Antarctic Awareness.......................................21 Rationale for Antarctica’s Place in the National Psyche....................................22 Historic Connections............................................................................................22 Contemporary Connections.................................................................................26 International Activity.........................................................................................26 Domestic Focal Points......................................................................................27 Public Monuments and Memorials...................................................................27 Personal Connections......................................................................................29 Assessing New Zealand’s Antarctic Identity.......................................................31 Individual and National Identity............................................................................31 Elaborating an Antarctic Identity..........................................................................31 Sociocultural Contexts......................................................................................31 Further Identity Shapers...................................................................................33 Continuity................................................................................................................34 Affiliation: Attitudes..................................................................................................34 Affiliation: Customs.................................................................................................36 Affiliation: Beliefs.....................................................................................................37 A Point of Difference...............................................................................................38 Communicating Gateway Identity through The Arts..........................................40 What has been created in Antarctic Arts? A Brief History....................................40 Imagination as a Gateway to Terra Australis...................................................40 The Hollow Earth Theory........................................................................................40 Secondary Experience as a Gateway..............................................................41 Primary Experience as a Gateway: The Evolving Role of the Antarctic Artist. 43 The Official Artist.....................................................................................................43 The Casual Artist.....................................................................................................44 Contemporary Artist Programmes: Manufacturing Artistic Opportunities...............46 Antarctica New Zealand’s Artist and Media Programmes: Overview...............46 The Arts Fellowships Programme...........................................................................47 Origins.........................................................................................................................47 The Process of Selection.............................................................................................48 The Process of Review................................................................................................48 The Invited Artists Programme...............................................................................48 The Artist’s Call to Antarctica...............................................................................50 The Artistic Response to Antarctica.....................................................................50 Unexpected Discoveries ..................................................................................50 The Artistic Process: Framing Antarctica.........................................................51 The Challenges of Creating Art in Antarctica..........................................................53 Logistics.......................................................................................................................53 Outdoor Conditions......................................................................................................53 Capturing the Experience.............................................................................................54 ...And After Antarctica............................................................................................55 The Impact of First-hand Experience...............................................................57 ...On the Artist.........................................................................................................57 ...And on their work.................................................................................................59 Advice from One Artist to Another....................................................................61 Travel by Air and by Sea: Perspectives from the Australian Experience.........61 Why Antarctic Arts? Rationale for the Ongoing Support of Antarctic Arts...........62 The Intrinsic Value of Art..................................................................................63 Increasing Antarctic Awareness.......................................................................63 Increasing Environmental Awareness..............................................................65 Observed Impacts on Audience Awareness...........................................................66 An Engagement Legacy: The Artist as Gateway.............................................66 Artist Development...........................................................................................67 Social Benefits: An On-base Morale Booster...................................................67 Building a Public Art Asset: National Antarctic Programme Collections..........68 Profile and PR Benefits...........................................................................................68 Any Publicity is Good Publicity: Stimulating Discussion...................................69 Reinforcing National Identities.........................................................................69 Shaping National Identity.................................................................................71 On How Arts Programmes Could Develop in the Future: Maximising Positive Outcomes.............................................................................................................71 Artist Expectations............................................................................................71 Residency Duration..........................................................................................72 Revisiting Antarctica.........................................................................................72 Who Goes There?............................................................................................73 Future Environmental and Scientific Awareness Arts......................................73 Gateways to New Zealand’s Public Antarctic Art Asset...................................74 Communicating Gateway Identity through Technology....................................76 Why Technology?................................................................................................76 Case Study 1: Gateway to Base!.........................................................................77 Other applications of videolink technology...........................................................79 Case Study 2: Virtual Fieldtrips............................................................................80 Technology in IPY Outreach: the New Zealand Connection................................81 Future Roles for Technology................................................................................82 Communicating Gateway Identity through the Festival.....................................85 The Christchurch Antarctic Festival: Contexts of Establishment and Development....................................................................................................85 Why Celebrate Antarctica?