Gallery Audio Tour
Lynda Todd
Change & Challenge: Migration
On display in Gallery 1 until April 2, 2025
On your phone or tablet, click on the “Listen in Browser” text for each audio file to stay on this page as you make your way counter-clockwise around the gallery.
We have two pairs of headphones available to borrow if needed. Please see Gallery Staff for assistance.
“Salmon, Salmon, Salmon” depicts an ocean scene with three large salmon. The salmon are painted in bright colours; one in a striking red, and the other two in shades of golden-yellow. They are shown swimming against a turbulent, textured backdrop of deep blue sea with white frothy waves, imbuing the scene with a sense of motion and energy. The water is rich with layers of blue, ranging from light to dark hues, creating depth and movement. The overall composition is vibrant and lively, capturing
marine life in a bold, expressive manner.
Incredible Jumpers – Salmon can leap up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) to overcome waterfalls and obstacles during migration.
“Salmon: Sea to Stream” is an underwater scene with eight salmon swimming upstream. The salmon, created from resin, shades of browns, grays, and reds, creating a realistic and captivating effect. The background is a representation of water, with swirls and waves portrayed in tones of blue, white, and green. The texture and flow of the water add a sense of movement and energy to the piece, making it visually engaging. The contrast between the fluidity of the water and the solid forms of the salmon provides a striking balance.
Born in Freshwater, Live in the Ocean, Return to Freshwater – Most salmon are anadromous, meaning they hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, then return to freshwater to spawn.
“Monarch Skies” captures the breathtaking journey of Monarch butterflies against an endless blue expanse. Wisps of textured clouds add depth, mirroring the ever-changing sky. The butterflies, with radiant orange, black, and white wings, float effortlessly on unseen winds, embodying both resilience and elegance in their timeless migration.
Monarch Skies is more than a painting—it’s a tribute to endurance, transformation, and the boundless beauty of nature’s rhythm.
“Icy Waltz” captures the resilience of penguins in a rapidly changing world. Two penguins stand face-to-face in the foreground, their black-and-white forms contrasted against a textured, pale backdrop. A distant group moves together, prepared for their instinctive migratory journeys across icy landscapes. Subtle blue tones are the cold expanse of their environment, reinforcing the serenity of the scene.
Many penguin species, including the Emperor and Galápagos penguins, are endangered due to climate change. Melting ice disrupts breeding grounds, and warming oceans threaten their food sources. Migration patterns
“Whirling Wilderness” are cliffs created by fluid swirls of colour depicting the great north. Dominant hues include blues, greens, and browns, blending seamlessly to create wavy moving patterns. The focal point is a bear dwarfed by the dynamic flow of landscape colours.
Natural Swimmers – Polar bears have partially webbed front paws, allowing them to swim long distances between ice floes—a crucial skill as their icy hunting grounds shrink.
“Caribou Perilous Trek” is a herd of six caribou, painted in silhouettes against a light, blue sky. The animals are shown walking up a rugged, white terrain, a snowy and rocky landscape. The caribou are depicted in simple, clean lines that contrast with the textured, rocky terrain. It captures a serene and natural moment, as the animals ascend the hill against the backdrop of the open sky. Canada has four main subspecies: Barren-ground, Woodland, Peary, and Mountain caribou.
Many caribou populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and industrial development.
“Polar Guardian” is a striking artwork of a textured white polar bear standing tall against a black background. The bear dominates the canvas, while ice blocks have built up beside him. Polar bears rely on sea ice for hunting and migration, but climate change is rapidly shrinking their habitat. As exhaustion and food scarcity, pushing them toward endangered status.
Polar bears have black skin beneath their fur, which helps them absorb and retain heat in the Arctic cold.
“Winterscape” is a painting of a polar bear on a rough, snowy landscape. The scene features an expansive sky with various shades of blue, suggesting a cold, icy environment. The polar bear has a textured body blending into the tactile snow and ice. The use of heavy brushstrokes and layered paint gives the piece a three-dimensional quality, emphasizing the ruggedness of the Arctic terrain.
Climate Change Threat: Rising global temperatures cause sea ice to melt earlier in spring and form later in fall, reducing hunting opportunities and leading to malnutrition and lower survival rates.
“Partners” are two penguins standing and facing each other. The penguins are painted simply, with black and white bodies, setagainst a textured, icy blue background. The brushwork is expressive, contributing to an overall impression of a cold, serene environment.
Penguins are known for their strong monogamous partnerships, with many species forming lifelong bonds. Each year, they return to the same mate to raise their chicks, often exchanging a unique “tuxedo dance” to reaffirm their bond.
”Turbulent Tones” features a silhouette of a black whale against a swirling backdrop of blue and white hues. The contrasting colours create a sense of depth and motion, with the whale positioned in a way that suggests movement. The textured application of paint adds a dynamic and fluid quality to the piece.
Super Communicators – Whales communicate using low-frequency sounds that can travel for hundreds of miles underwater, allowing them to “talk” to each other across vast distances.
”Harmony in Motion” ” is an artwork of a whale in his ocean element. The ocean waters break into patterns and textures in shades of blue, white, and hints of brown. The composition has a fluid feel, with intricate lines and cells of ocean waves. The overall effect is both chaotic and harmonious,
capturing a sense of movement and depth.
Whale Lifespan – Some whale species, like the bowhead whale, can live for over 200 years, making them one of the longest-living mammals.
Whale Migration – Many whale species migrate thousands of miles each year, traveling from cold waters to warmer ones to breed and give birth.
“Harmony of Dreams” features a sea turtle swimming underwater. The use of textures creates a rich sense of movement and depth. The turtle is in dark green tones against a background of blues and yellows. The blending of colours are the play of light through water, enhancing the aquatic themeand giving the piece an energetic and immersive quality.
Epic Journeys – Sea turtles migrate thousands of kilometers between feeding and nesting grounds, with some species, traveling over 10,000 km annually.
”Ocean Drifter” has a sea turtle gliding through swirling currents. It’s dark silhouette contrasts a vibrant sea of blues, greens, and yellow. The fluid motion reflects the ever-changing ocean, a reminder of the challenges sea turtles face—climate change, plastic pollution, and habitat loss. These ancient mariners have roamed the seas for over 100 million years, yet today, rising temperatures are threatening their survival by skewing hatchling sex ratios. Protecting them means preserving the delicate balance of our oceans.
”Standing Tall” is a painting of a penguin. The penguin has textured brush strokes, featuring a predominantly black body with a white belly. The textured background gives the impression of snow and ice with a light blue stripe behind him, adding a contrasting element to the composition. The penguin is shown standing upright with outstretched wings.
Feathered Wetsuits! Penguins have dense, waterproof feathers that trap air, keeping them warm and buoyant in icy waters.
They ‘Fly’ Underwater! Penguins’ wings are shaped like flippers, allowing them to “fly” through water instead of air.
”Fragile Balance” features an abstract, white palette with swirling lines and ridges that create textures. A green border adds contrast, symbolizing the impact of climate change—melting ice and shifting landscapes. The stark white is a reminder of disappearing glaciers, while the green suggests the Fragile Balance of our climate. Rising temperatures disrupt ecosystems, wildlife migration, and global harmony.
As global temperatures rise, ecosystems are disrupted, affecting wildlife migration and the planet’s delicate harmony.
”Sunlit Symphony” is a tall whooping crane standing in a textured landscape. The crane has a long, slender neck and a detailed head with striking colours, including red and black markings. The body of the crane is textured, contrasted with the smooth background. Behind the bird, a bold, stylized sun in vivid yellow adds a dynamic element to the scene. The foreground includes green shrubbery with a textured surface, enhancing the natural environment. The sky transitions from blue at the top to a soft orange and pink near the horizon, a serene atmosphere.
Dancing Pros – Whooping cranes love to dance! They perform elaborate courtship dances, which include bowing, jumping, and wing-flapping.
”Penguin March” is a waddle of penguins walking across a textured, snowy landscape. The ground is white with snow and rough texture, while the sky is painted in bold, contrasting colours: vibrant pink, orange, and light green, creating a striking background. The penguins are illustrated with simple black shapes that highlight their distinctive forms.
Waddling March on Glaciers: Penguins’ iconic waddle is actually an energy-efficient way to move across ice and snow—their short legs and awkward gait help conserve energy, making long journeys across glaciers more manageable!
”Horizon Dancers” has five penguins set against a rocky landscape. The sky is painted in vibrant bands of orange, pink, and light yellow, a colourful sunrise. The penguins, painted in simple, dark silhouettes, are positioned on the textured white and slightly pinkish rock formations, adding movement and interaction among them.
Emperor penguins can dive over 500 meters deep—deeper than any other bird—to hunt for fish and squid in the frigid waters beneath the ice.
”Stealth & Swells” is a whale swimming. The whale is painted in black with distinctive white markings on its underside, creating a strong contrast. The background is a mix of vibrant orange, yellow, and brown hues, highlighting movement and fluidity. The textures in the background resemble marbled ocean patterns, adding depth and excitement to the composition.
The IUCN Red List classifies the North Atlantic right whale as critically endangered, with fewer than 350 individuals remaining due to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
”The Wanderer” portrays a white wolf positioned between vivid red trees. The wolf is centrally placed on a dark background, creating a dramatic contrast with its white fur. The texture and colour use enhance the presence of the trees and add depth to the composition. Bright red strokes define the trees, balancing the stark black and white contrast of the wolf and background. This combination creates a striking and visually engaging piece.
Wolves are super communicators! They use howls, body language, and even facial expressions to talk to their pack. Climate change affects their prey. Rising temperatures reduce snow cover, making it harder for wolves to hunt species like caribou and moose.
”Soaring Sunset” is a flock of five black, silhouetted whooping cranes in flight against a sunset backdrop. The sky transitions from deep pink at the top, through shades of orange, to a bright yellow closer to the horizon and the glow of a setting sun. The birds add an element of additional beauty to the serene and colourful scene.
Tallest Birds in North America – Whooping cranes stand about 5 feet tall, making them the tallest birds in North America!
Comeback Story – In the 1940s, fewer than 20 whooping cranes remained in the wild. Thanks to conservation efforts, there are now over 800!
“Caribou” is on gallery canvas and has two caribou standing on a textured landscape. The piece is created with a combination of earthy tones and textures to form the terrain and vegetation. The caribou are painted in dark brown with highlights, creating a strong contrast against the lighter background. The focus is on texture and form.
Caribou are found across Canada, from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
”Storming Waters” captures the hues of blue, black, white, and gold. It showcases fluid, marble-like patterns. The painting features sweeping, wave-like forms and intricate lines that create movement and depth. The blending of colours gives it an organic, flowing aesthetic. The ocean absorbs about 90% of the excess heat from climate change, leading to stronger storms, rising sea levels, and disrupted marine ecosystems. Warmer waters fuel more intense hurricanes and alter global weather patterns!
”Ivory Whispers” is a textured painting of an African elephant, showcasing its majestic presence. Thick, layered paint creates a tactile surface that highlights the elephant’s wrinkled skin, large ears, and curved tusks. Shades of gray and brown add depth, while a light, neutral background enhances the elephant’s details.
African elephants are known for long migration routes, traveling across savannas, forests, and deserts in search of food and water. Their journeys are guided by memory and social knowledge passed down through generations.
”Playful Elephant” captures the majestic presence of an African elephant, with a striking side profile with its trunk lifted high. A cascade of purple, blue, and grey—flows from its trunk, a glint of sun sparkles in the water spray. The texture enhances the elephant’s rough, wrinkled skin, while a minimalist background draws focus to its expressive gesture.
African elephants embark on vast migrations across savannas and forests, traveling up to 50 miles a day in search of water and food. Once abundant, they are now endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, making conservation efforts critical for their survival.
“Scorched Horizons” features a bold gold band across the canvas, contrasted by black arcs and fine diagonal lines. Muted blue and grey tones below add depth, reflecting the tension between rising temperatures and fragile ecosystems. The golden hues symbolize warmth and climate shifts, highlighting the impact of droughts and resource depletion.
The last decade was the hottest on record, with 2023 being one of the warmest years ever, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions!
“Poised” is a painting of a bronze bear with textured fur, set against a dark, muted background. In the background, subtle outlines of trees are depicted, adding to the natural feel of the piece. The use of contrasting colours creates a striking image of the bear.
”Monarch in Motion” features a red butterfly at its heart. The butterfly has detailed wing patterns, which stand out against a background of green, yellow, and black hues. The colours explode outward, creating movement and energy. The use of contrasting colours makes the butterfly the focal point, amidst the more chaotic surrounding textures. The overall composition is bold and vibrant, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between structure and fluidity.
“Resilience” features a pair of monarch butterflies in flight. The butterflies are hand-crafted from resin and hand-painted with orange and black wings accentuated with white spots. They are set against a background filled with swirling colours of red, blue, white, and gold lilies. The artistic style combines realism in the depiction of the butterflies, loose and lively, in the background, creating a striking contrast.
Bright Warning Colors – Their orange and black coloration warns predators that they are toxic due to the milkweed they consume as caterpillars.
”Harmony of Wings and Petals” features a vivid red flower. Its petals are meticulously detailed to show their intricate structure. Set against a black, velvet background, the flower’s bright yellow core stands out. The butterfly’s orange and black wings have
exceptional detail, compliment the rich colours of the flower.
Monarch butterflies embark on one of nature’s most extraordinary migrations, traveling up to 4,000 kilometers from Canada to the forests of central Mexico. Unlike other migrating species, no single butterfly completes the journey—each new generation instinctively picks up where the last left off, following an ancient path written in their very being.
“Tide Ballet” is two whales swimming in a swirling, oceanic environment. The piece uses white and blue tones to create movement of water around the whales. The intricate patterns and textures show depth and the natural beauty of the ocean.
North Atlantic right whales migrate along Canada’s East Coast, particularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but climate change is shifting their food supply, forcing them into new areas with higher risks of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
“Aquatic Elegance” The whale is painted in a watercolor style, with the use of blue and green tones. The whale is outlined in a darker color, giving it a defined shape as it swims against a vibrant, aquatic background. The blending of colours creates a fluid sense of movement, encapsulating the essence of underwater life.
Some species, like the North Atlantic right whale, are critically endangered due to ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements.
Climate change is impacting whale habitats, particularly in the Arctic, where melting ice affects species like narwhals and bowhead whales.
“Arctic Silence” is a painting of a polar bear, with textured fur, on a snowy ice floe against a vibrant blue sky. The ice floe beneath is also textured, with shades of white and blue, creating an icy landscape. The background consists of a deep blue, adding contrast to the white elements in the foreground. This painting captures a serene scene in an Arctic setting.
Arctic Habitat: Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live in the Arctic, primarily in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Russia, relying on sea ice for hunting and breeding.
“Freedom” is an impressionist seascape, alive with swirling blues and greens that capture the ocean’s movement and depth. Textured impasto strokes form frothy waves crashing toward an unseen shore, while a soft blue sky, streaked with wispy clouds, adds serenity. Three whooping cranes soar high above the waves. Whooping cranes, known for their graceful flight, can travel up to 500 miles in a single day during migration!