Sunken Villages of the St. Lawrence Seaway | Unpublished
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Ottawa, Ontario
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Louis Helbig: BA (Great Distinction) McGill; MSc., London School of Economics

Louis Helbig is a Canadian aerial art photographer. He brings his unique perspective – as pilot, as artist, as thinker, as citizen – to the various stories he pursues.
In his work, Louis Helbig uses the evocative power of art to create space for viewers to reflect, imagine and think for themselves. This philosophy is best evidenced in his ongoing projects, “Beautiful Destruction – Alberta Tar/Oil Sands,” and “Sunken Villages” about the communities destroyed by the St Lawrence Seaway in 1958.

Louis Helbig’s work has been commented on and published in mainstream, academic, and critical art publications; he has given presentations and mounted exhibitions at various public and private institutions; his work is held in public and private collections worldwide.

Raised in Williams Lake, BC, Louis Helbig’s art is influenced by a range of experiences including that of: competitive cross country ski racer, bush pilot, economic historian, cabinet minister’s advisor and university instructor. He left Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs in 2006 to become a full-time artist.

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Sunken Villages of the St. Lawrence Seaway

September 6, 2013

This is an invitation to Ottawa-area residents to view my most recent photography exhibit on the Sunken Villages of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Details follow below...

“We are what we were.”
- Art Buckland (Sunken Villages interviewee, August 2013)

Art can reflect both who we were and who we are. It can help us tell ourselves the stories – the history – that define us.

My new exhibition of Sunken Villages – images of the communities destroyed by the St. Lawrence Seaway – opens Friday September 13 at the Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, St Lawrence College, Brockville, ON and closes Nov 2, 2013.

This new creative endeavour combines my aerial images – from the air and through the water – with audio interviews of 27 people affected by the flooding.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday Sept. 14, 1 - 3pm at the Gallery, 2288 Parkdale Ave. Brockville, and for my 'Artist Talk' on Thursday Sept. 26 at 1pm.

Also stay tuned for the launch of a brand new Sunken Villages website, where you can view the images, hear the voices, watch the interviews, and where you can consider who we were and who we are.

Sincerely,

Louis Helbig

PS: To view a vimeo video of this project please visit: http://vimeo.com/74031112.