Masterworks Hosts “Whalesong” Book Launch
Documentarian Andrew Stevenson has a whale of a tale to tell — and this week the Bermuda Masterworks Museum will help the naturalist launch his long-awaited book on the migratory humpback whales which pass through the island’s waters every year.
“Whale Song: Journeys Into the Secret Lives of North Atlantic Humpbacks” [cover art at left] is being published by Constable and Robinson in London with co-publishers in Canada and Germany.
“This 200-page large format book with 300 of my photographs and 37,000 words of text is based on the research I have conducted for the Bermuda Humpback Whale Film & Research Project Project in recent years,” said Mr. Stevenson.
The Masterworks event — being held on Thursday, October 27 and getting underway at 5.30 p.m. — will feature a screening of Mr. Stevenson’s award-winning documentary “Where The Whales Sing.”
Last month Mr. Stevenson was announced as the Masterworks 2011 Charman Prize Winner, marking the first time a documentary film has been chosen as a winner.
His film – “Where the Whales Sing” – has already won a number of international awards including High Honours at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival held in New Jersey, and a category win at the 2010 BLUE Ocean Film Festival.
Established in 2008 with the opening of the new Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, the Charman Prize is an annual art prize competition for local artists in Bermuda.
Sponsor and patron of the Charman Prize is Mr. John Charman, the CEO and President of Axis Capital Holdings, a local businessman, and an art collector. The intention of the Charman Prize is to exhibit artwork inspired by Bermuda, and to honor and support artists in the creation of their artwork.
Artworks are reviewed by a panel of judges, and the Charman Prize grants awards based on the artwork’s excellence according to the competition’s overall theme and four points of judging criteria. The grand prize winning artist wins $10,000 for an artwork that embodies an outstanding example of the judging criteria.
Footage from Andrew Stevenson’s Film “Where The Whales Sing”
Masterworks Museum said, “Competing with all 93 entrants, Mr. Stevenson’s film, a documentary entitled
‘Where the Whales Sing’, explores the wonders of the Bermuda environment and ocean-life.”
“It was chosen for being an outstanding example of the competition’s four judging criteria; Design and Composition — fine use of the principles and elements of design and composition; Use of Material — technical mastery and skill in a chosen medium; Distinctive and Convincing Style — a highly developed quality of creativity and originality; and Source of Inspiration — a clear intent and vision.”
Four years ago Mr. Stevenson embarked on his project to film the North Atlantic humpback whales underwater in the middle of their mid-ocean migratory crossings.
He worked on the film between February, 2007 and February, 2010 during which time the humpback whales became an overriding passion. The film shares his journey, told through the eyes of his six-year-old daughter, Elsa.
The 60-minute documentary is the culmination of Mr. Stevenson’s Humpback Whale Film & Research Project, intended to research and collect visual and acoustics data on the humpbacks as they migrate past Bermuda to broaden our knowledge of these magnificent animals.
“Please join us for this event,” said a Masterworks spokesman. “Come down for soup and a sandwich and see this remarkable, multi-award winning film if you have not already.”
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Category: All, Environment
Great film! Even more wonderful book! The photography is amazing! Highly recommended