Views of the Himalaya June 11, 2008

Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum
Hosts “Views of the Himalaya” Event
World-class photography exhibit and speakers offer glimpse into culture and people of the Himalaya
May 28, 2008 - Breckenridge, Colorado — Mountain to Mountain, a Breckenridge-based organization dedicated to promoting education and community development in remote mountain communities, along with the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum, will open the “Views of the Himalaya” event on June 11, 2008. Beginning at 5:30 pm, the photography exhibit and speakers panel will offer a greater window into the cultural, geographical and geopolitical landscape of the Himalayan region. Reception tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.bwamm.org. The exhibit will run through August 2.
710 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401 – 303-996-2755 - Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Mountain to Mountain will be donating 100% of photography sales to the dZi Foundation Revitalize a Village project in Gudel, Nepal, one of the poorest areas of the world. Revitalize a Village is supporting sustainable community development through educational initiatives focused on building schools, training teachers and providing safe drinking water for the 5,000 villagers. Translated poetry and art from local Gudel porters will also be on display.
World class mountaineers, George Lowe, Ellen Miller, and Jake Norton will join others for an evening of storytelling and sharing of their love and respect of the people and communities that make up this region.
Featured photographers include Phil Borges, Kevin Bubriski, Jimmy Chin, Sallie Dean Shatz, Tony Di Zinno, Ace Kavale, Galen Rowell, Beth Wald, Nevada Wier and Bob Winsett. These award winning artists are socially conscious innovators who are connected to the people and culture in the environment in which they travel, play and work.
“The common thread of storytelling and a desire to help our global neighbors thrive in their communities have brought together an incredible group of artists to promote Mountain to Mountain’s vision that education is the way forward,” said Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain to Mountain. “With this exhibit, we aim to illuminate the images and voices of the Himalaya, furthering the understanding and interconnectedness of our global community.”
Beth Wald, a Boulder-based award winning photographer, will be exhibiting her work at the event. “I, like many people, was first lured to the Himalayas by the spectacular and legendary mountains, but returned again and again because of the people and the ancient cultures that still survive in numerous high valleys below the soaring peaks,” she said. “Many of the varied peoples of the Himalayas live a rich spiritual life surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Many of them also live in extreme poverty. I have supported the dZi Foundation over the years because the people involved know the Himalayas intimately and have a deep seeded love of and respect for the people.”
About the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum
Opened in 2008, the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum is devoted to the stories of mountains and mountaineers. The only museum of its type in the United States, the museum will introduce visitors to the world of mountain and rock climbing and honor the achievements of mountaineers from America and around the world. Exhibits on climate, science, cultures and the humanities as they relate to mountains promise to make the visitor experience exciting and interactive. (www.bwamm.org)
About the dZi Foundation and Revitalize a Village
The dZi Foundation believes in empowering local visionaries and communities to reach their true potential through programs that are sustainable and serve within the existing social framework. Their work is focused in the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Ladakh and Sikkim, India. The Revitalize a Village initiative is based on an innovative model for rural development that is changing the lives of thousands of people in some of the most remote Himalayan villages. Revitalize a Village places the control of development projects in the hands of the community from the very beginning. By mobilizing leaders and educating community members, large-scale development projects can be implemented for a fraction of the typical cost, at a much higher quality of construction and with the assurance of sustainability. (www.dzifoundation.org.)
About Mountain to Mountain
A mountain-based organization, Mountain to Mountains mission is to promote education and community development by creating ties with mountain communities at home and abroad. The organization supports education and indigenous community development projects in under-served mountain areas around the world. By coordinating outreach for our partner charities on the ground, we are committed to raising funds and awareness for the creation, growth and sustainability of community-driven projects in high altitude regions. Our mountain-based athletic and cultural events, and international speaking series, enable Mountain to Mountain to cultivate strong, grassroots connections here at home, which empower individuals to be catalysts for change in the global community. Mountain to Mountain is based in Breckenridge, Colo. (www.mountain2mountain.com)
Photographer web sites
Beth Wald - www.bethwaldphotography.com
Bob Winsett - www.bobwinsett.com
Nevada Wier www.nevadawier.com
Phil Borges – www.philborges.com
Galen Rowell (courtesy of Mountainlight) – www.mountainlight.com
Jimmy Chin – www.jimmychinphotography.com
Kevin Bubriski - www.kevinbubriski.com

Official Website: http://www.bwamm.org