Anna-Louise Photographs Alaska
Pollyanna’s daughter and business partner Anna-Louise was delighted to be invited to travel to Alaska last Summer with the Artist’s for Conservation Group in the role of expedition photographer. The expedition was aranged to celebrate the AFC’s 25th anniversary. The journey took Anna-Louise north from Vancouver through the Inside Passage to Sitka, via the Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, to Juneau and Ketchikan. The group were treated to breathtaking landscapes, breaching humpback whales, bubble net feeding performances, frolicking sea otters, migrating salmon, brawling grizzly bears, orcas, eagles, ravens, a wide variety of sea birds, majestic totems and hiking trails at every location.
During the voyage Anna-Louise also gave a presentation in the Celebrity Theatre on board the Cruise Ship Eclipse about the work of The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation. (right) “It was wonderful to be given this opportunity to travel to Alaska” Anna-Louise commented “it was my first time travelling to this area and I was stunned by both the spectacular scenery and the abundant wildlife.”
Anna-Louise, who holds the official post of Advisor to the AFC joined Jeff Whiting, their CEO and Founder and the group of artists on whale watching trips and hikes through the forests. “I was very pleased to be able to take this opportunity to join the AFC to mark this special anniversary” she said on her return “Pollyanna had very strong links with the group for many years, and I know that she would be so pleased that I am maintaining that relationship.”
Pollyanna was invited to join the AFC as a Signature Member in 2005. In 2007 she received a fellowship from the Group in support of her landmark expedition into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Pollyanna was the first woman ever to be granted a fellowship by the group – and the first artist to be selected from outside Canada or North America. Pollyanna acted as an Ambassador for AFC throughout the journey, and carried their expedition flag.
Pollyanna’s sketch journal was subsequently published by the society, and officially launched in New York at an exhibition of work inspired by her journeys. She was the winner of their prestigious Simon Combes award for Conservation through Artistic Excellence, bestowed at a gala dinner in Canada in 2012 and in 2014 acted as patron of their annual art festival in Vancouver. Most recently in 2017 she was proud to represent the society at an international wildlife art exhibition and conservation festival in China.