The exhibit Legends of the Land / Sx̱wex̱wiy̓ám̓ tiná7 tl’a temíxw / ptakwlh ti tmicwa shares how traditional knowledge and history were passed down from generation to generation through stories. Guests can experience storytelling, bold artwork, petroglyphs and pictographs showing the connection to the land of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) territory and the Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat Nation) territory. Continuing the tradition of ancestors, these stories tell meaningful connections to the land, anchoring families to specific areas throughout time and strengthening their identities.

Curator Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal shares “We were requested by our Elders to learn and share more about our stories.  They’re vital to knowing and sharing who we are, where we’re from and all the possibilities available to us” 

Guests can view the exhibition in Gallery 3 of the Museum, opening on Friday, April 25, 2025. Beginning May 10, 2025, throughout spring and summer, Cultural Ambassadors will share a special feature Legends of the Land Tour at 3pm beginning with a welcome song, and live storytelling within the exhibit space in Gallery 3. The feature tour replaces the 3pm What We Treasure Tour – the signature hourly guided tour guests can experience at the top of every hour throughout the day. The Legends of the Land Tour will also be available as a group tour booked in advance based on availability.

The internationally acclaimed Toronto-based artist Edward Burtynsky will present a selection of large-scale photo-based works for this exhibition at the Audain Art Museum. Over the past 40 years, Burtynsky has focused his camera lens on the impact of human industry around the planet. This display of recent works in Whistler entitled The Coast Mountains captures the pristine grandeur of British Columbia’s natural environment, while highlighting the pressing issue of glacier retreat due to global warming.

Burtynsky reflects: “Recent reports on the world’s remaining glaciers provide sobering news. Estimates are that most of Western Canada’s glaciers will be lost to melting within the next 80 years. By the end of this century, they could all be gone. My daughters, who are in their 20s, will not be looking at the same world when they are my age. These images are a reminder of what’s being lost – relics of ancient ice and an essential resource for ecosystems and freshwater in these parts of the world.”

Such an exhibition in the AAM’s Upper Galleries brings a relevant sense of aesthetic wonder that has attracted visitors to Whistler for decades and the underlying dilemma of how the local mountain landscape continues to change. The Museum is honoured to host Edward Burtynsky, as he continues to be a leader in artistic discourse that speaks to a greater social consciousness.

Rarely Seen Masterworks from the National Gallery of Canada—Degas, Klimt, Munch & More at the Audain Art Museum!

The Audain Art Museum proudly presents a landmark exhibition featuring rarely seen drawings from the National Gallery of Canada’s renowned Prints and Drawings collection. Established in 1921 as the first of its kind in Canada, this collection spans the 15th to 20th centuries, showcasing works in graphite, ink, pastel, watercolour, and more.

Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault is organized by the National Gallery of Canada (NGC). This exceptional exhibition highlights masterpieces by Edgar Degas, Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, Marc Chagall, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, and many other celebrated artists, alongside newly acquired and never-before-displayed works. The selection ranges from preparatory sketches for iconic paintings to striking depictions of history, mythology, portraiture, landscapes, abstraction, and intimate explorations of the human experience.

Accompanying the exhibition is Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault, a richly illustrated catalogue by Sonia Del Re with Kirsten Appleyard and contributions by Erika Dolphin. Published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Canada, the catalogue showcases remarkable discoveries from the collection.