Antarctic Expeditions, Soundscapes, and Advocacy with Valmar Kurol

Montréal-based artist and Antarctic enthusiast Valmar Kurol believes that artists and tourists play a major role in the protection of Antarctica, as discussed in the latest EstoCast episode.

Which is partly why the continent has been the focus of his music (in addition to research and painting). It’s a region with an Estonian connection, a great deal of wildlife, as well as an urgent need for environmental stewardship from the whole world.

In this episode of EstoCast, hear about:

🇦🇶 the vital role of the Antarctic Treaty and the modern challenges facing the Southern Ocean 

🐧 how Valmar and his musical collaborator and friend Michael Stibor depict penguins’ movements and sounds—among other exciting and colourful facets of the continent—in unexpected stylistic ways

🚢 the legacy of Estonian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and the 200th anniversary of his expedition

🧊and much more!

Things mentioned in this episode: 

-A listing of Valmar’s artistic works: https://www.antarcticart.net/ 

-The Antarctic Circle website Valmar built, an immense resource for Antarctic literature and film: http://www.antarctic-circle.org/valmar.htm

-A review of one of his album’s: https://eestielu.ca/a-passionate-affection/ 

-The website for the latest album On Track for Antarctica: https://ontrackforantarctica.com/ 

-Theme from Antarctica by Vangelis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX9XyddZTtA

-Valmar’s friend and musical collaborator Michael Stibor: https://www.instagram.com/michaelstibor/ 

- Estonian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen: https://eestielu.ca/estonians-in-the-arctic-and-antarctica/

-”Estonia and Antarctica,” Cambridge University Press: https://sci-hub.box/10.1017/s0032247411000234 

-Juhan Smuul’s book about Antarctica, “Jäine raamat,” translated into English as “Antarctica Ahoy!”: https://www.abebooks.com/Antarctica-Ahoy-Ice-Book-SMUUL-Juhan/22610172754/bd

-The song “Dinosaur Extinction Blues”: https://open.spotify.com/track/5DBNfLciJTTTqgvJDW7QsO 

-The Thwaites Glacier or “Doomsday Glacier”: https://www.wired.com/story/the-doomsday-glacier-is-getting-closer-and-closer-to-irreversible-collapse/ 

-An Eesti Elu article and photo gallery giving a glimpse of what a trip to Antarctica is like: https://eestielu.ca/saaremaa-and-antarctica-whats-the-connection/ 

- Listen to Valmar's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6j376aXdCjeuw7zyut6Nbh 

Socials:

➡️ @estonianmusicweek
         https://www.facebook.com/EstonianMusicWeek
 
➡️ https://www.facebook.com/vemu.ca

➡️ @eestielu.ca
        https://www.facebook.com/eestielu.ca/events

➡️ @vemu.emc
       https://www.facebook.com/vemu.ca