Elverhøj Museum debuts newest exhibit 'Greenland -- Land of the Midnight Sun'
May 22—The Elverhøj Museum of History & Art in Solvang now is showcasing its newest exhibition "Greenland — Land of the Midnight Sun" through Sept. 18, featuring a collection of stunning photography of Greenland's expansive Arctic terrain, its people and culture.
The exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to lean more about the vast Greenland ice sheet, which covers more than 80% of the island in ice nearly 2 miles thick.
"Due to its location and climate, Greenland is the least populated place in the world," Bates said. "The majority of the population is Inuit or mixed Danish and Inuit. The resulting culture is historically diverse and beautifully connected to the land."
Located in North America near Canada, the world's largest island, contrary to its name, is not very green but covered in ice, explained exhibit curator and Executive Director Esther Jacobsen Bates.
For more information
The Elverhoj Museum is located at 1624 Elverhoy Way in Solvang and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
There is no charge for admission; suggested donation is $5.
For more information, contact the museum at 805-686-1211 or visit elverhoj.org.
Constant daylight bathes the island nation for days, weeks or months on end from May through July, and the soft, warm rays from the low-lying sun cast a surreal palette of pink, purple, yellow and red on icebergs and hilltops.
The island, which is known for its glaciers and ice, also has layers of culture and history that date back 4,500 years.
Further, the ice sheet and Ilulissat Glacier on Greenland's west coast — the fastest moving glacier in the world — are often included in conversations about the global climate system, Bates said.
"Greenland is majestic — and so important. What happens in Greenland affects people everywhere," she said.
The exhibit is a collaboration with the Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums (SBMuseumsAlliance.org), a collective of 14 institutions that share a purpose to explore the impacts of climate change through art, history, science or nature. The alliance was formed in 2020 and will feature exhibits and displays throughout the region until September.
Lisa André covers lifestyle and local news for Santa Ynez Valley News and Lompoc Record, editions of the Santa Maria Times.
