Greenland: Under the Arctic SKY

Greenland Under the Arctic Sky  Rochester Institute of Technology, a partner in Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), presents an interdisciplinary lecture and panel discussion on Greenland.   Wesley Johnson – Cinematographer BFA School of Photographic Arts and Sciences - Rochester Institute of Technology MFA Cinematography, American Film Institute, Los Angeles, CA https://bendingthelight.com/     As cinematographer for the film, The Last Ice Hunters (http://www.thelasticehuntersmovie.com/), Wes will share his photographic work and experiences in Greenland.  His talk will include a brief geological and geographic history of Greenland.  Wes will discuss the Greenlandic Inuits, their 4,000-year-old history and culture as Ice Hunters with an emphasis on the remote villages of East Greenland and the disappearance of that culture.   Wes hopes to bring an awareness to the importance of this isolated people and majestic place – The Artic, last wilderness on earth.   Denis Defibaugh – Professor School of Photographic Arts and Sciences College of Art and Design, Rochester Institute of Technology   Denis will speak about his interdisciplinary Greenland project, funded by an NSF grant. He will be introducing the two largest cities in Greenland (Nuuk 17,000 and Sisimiut 7,000 population) and the effects of social, environmental and cultural change on those cities and western communities incurred by modernization efforts, economic shifts, and the construction of regional and national identities. Greenland is an evolving ecosystem that is addressing change while attempting to retain Inuit traditions.   Panelist: Eric Hittinger College of Liberal Arts Climate Change Policy Researcher   Christine Keiner College of Liberal Arts Marine Environmental Historian   Carrie McCalley College of Science Winter Ecology Researcher