John Hartman: Across the Great Divide

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John Hartman, "The Whirlpool River and the Hooker Icefield," 2016

oil on linen, 48" x 68", private collection.

Opening Reception – Saturday, April 8

Museum Members at 6 PM, General Opening at 7 PM

The Grand Traverses of the Rocky and Columbia Mountains

Thursday, April 20, 7 PM

Through stunning photography and movie clips, follow Chic Scott across the grand ski traverses.

In Discussion: Ian Brown with John Hartman

Thursday, April 27, 7 PM

Writer, Ian Brown and artist, John Hartman will discuss how they portray their passion for the Rockies and skiing through their preferred mediums.

The 320 km Great Divide Traverse from Jasper to West Lake Louise Lodge has challenged the passion, daring and cumulative achievement of numerous alpine enthusiasts. The exhausting distance, challenging mountainous terrain and ever-changing weather defy the probability of success. Yet, in 1967, Don Gardner, Neil Liske, Charlie Locke and Chic Scott succeeded in completing this arduous route in a mere 21 days. Three earlier groups including one led by famed guide Hans Gmoser, had failed. Subsequent attempts by later generations of climbers have further popularized the route.

For internationally-acclaimed Canadian artist John Hartman, RCA (b. 1950) the stories about the Great Divide Traverse unfolded at the Whyte Museum in Banff during the April 2013 opening of his exhibition John Hartman: The Columbia in Canada. In a chance encounter, he spoke at length with Don Gardner who recounted the experience shared with his three venturesome cohorts. Captivated by their adventure and eager to embark on one of his own, Hartman set out on another western Canadian painting project to recapture their trek.

Hartman’s ambitious proposal aligned with the Whyte Museum’s exhibition program and community initiatives specific to the internationally celebrated, local mountaineering community. In May 2014, support for the project was provided by the Museum in the form of accommodation, introductions and a studio. Hartman’s determination to gather in-depth information resulted in interviews and studio portrait sessions with each member of the expedition. These resulted in rich stories of people and places interwoven into complex visual narratives. Indeed, when considering his work, the critical distinction between portraiture and landscape is blurred. Hartman engages in a creative dialogue between past interpretations of figurative work and his own hypothesis.