Traveling Exhibits - Burke Museum

The Last Polar Bear:
Facing the Truth of a Warming World

Perhaps more than any other animal, polar bears are purely creatures
of the ice... — Richard Nelson, Author and Conservationist

Kazlowski’s photographs bear witness to the polar bear as it faces rapid changes in the Arctic environment. The photographs also celebrate the remarkable adaptations of these magnificent animals. Visitors learn about the unique biology of polar bears and the intricate web of life to which they belong — and upon which they depend. Intimate images portray the bears’ annual life cycle, from mothers with cubs to adults on the hunt.

Ice Bears of the Beaufort is an 8-minute short film included with the exhibit that provides a rare portrait of polar bear movement through sea ice, in open water, and over coastal lands — filmed by cinematographer Arthur C. Smith III.

Book and film available for purchase: A full-color, 200-page book of the same title accompanies the exhibition along with a 30-minute DVD featuring polar bears of the Beaufort Sea coast.

The Last Polar Bear was organized by the Burke Museum in partnership with Braided River, a branch of The Mountaineers Books.

Itinerary and Availability Information

Exhibit Specifications

Contents	45 large-format color, framed wall mounts, polar bear photo wall mural, text panels, captions, and polar bear audiovisual DVD
Participation Fee	Contact Mark R. Hand at (206) 616-0268 or e-mail at mrhand@u.washington.edu
Size	280 running feet minimum (85 meters); approx. 2,000 – 2,500 square feet
Crates	2
Weight	700 pounds
Security	Moderate
Shipping	Inbound - Note: Additional shipping and/or custom fees apply for venues in Alaska and Canada
Tour begins	January 2009

Visitors learn about the polar bear’s Arctic habitat at The Last Polar Bear exhibit.

A visitor learns about climate change at The Last Polar Bear exhibit.

Visitors looking at photographs in Last Polar Bear exhibit

Striking images impress visitors at The Last Polar Bear exhibit.

[+] Read about Exhibit Support and Registrarial Requirements

Exhibition Support

As a host of The Last Polar Bear, you will receive the following:

Complete registrarial information

Complete shipping, handling, and installation instructions

Public relations support in the form of digital press releases, images, and logos; digital graphic templates of promotional materials; and advice on promoting the show

Educational and programming resources

Registrarial Requirements
This exhibition has been designated Moderate Security. It will contain wall-hung elements consisting of 45 large-format color, framed photographs, text panels, and captions. In order to be hung in approx. 280 running feet, multiple photographs will need to be double hung. This exhibition has not yet been fabricated. Additional requirements may be added to reflect the final exhibition.

Space

Venues must have a limited-access gallery of sufficient area and wall space to accommodate the exhibition. An open mall, hallway, or lounge area is not acceptable.
Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited in the exhibition area, exhibitor receiving, and staging spaces.
No part of the exhibition may be stored, crated, or moved off the premises without prior authorization from the Burke Museum. Empty crates for all exhibit contents must be stored in secured, pest-free, and fire-protected storage.

Security

Trained professional guards and/or personnel must be present in sufficient numbers to protect the exhibition adequately throughout the time it is on site (during truck off-loading, unpacking, installation, deinstallation, repacking, and truck loading) and on view.
The exhibition area must be locked and secured during closed hours. Alarms and/or guards during closed hours are preferred but not required.
Functioning fire-prevention systems and other fire-protection devices that meet local ordinances must be available in the exhibition, staging, and storage spaces.

Environmental Controls

The exhibition, staging, and storage areas should have a temperature range of 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity range of 40-60% relative humidity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Venues without an HVAC system will need to provide climate data that reports consistent environmental conditions.
The venue must have environmental recording equipment (hygrothermographs or dataloggers) in the exhibition, staging, and storage areas. A member of the collections management or registration staff must make routine checks of the exhibition.
There must be no direct sunlight in the exhibition, staging, or storage areas. It should be diffused or eliminated. Light levels must be limited to 20 foot-candles. Light must be filtered for UV.

Exhibition Care

Handling of all exhibit contents during unpacking, installation, deinstallation, and repacking must be done by curatorial, registrarial, or by other trained and experienced museum professionals.
The exhibition may contain crates weighing up to 400 pounds. Venues will need to have the facility and staff or the ability to hire skilled personnel for crate delivery and movement.
The exhibition contents must be left in their crates for 24 hours before unpacking.

For more information, please contact:
Mark R. Hand
Traveling Exhibits Coordinator
Phone: 206-616-0268
Email: mrhand@u.washington.edu


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