Roberta Bondar photo exhibit opens at Art Gallery of Algoma

Up North5:14Roberta Bondar photographs the earth on its surface

Roberta Bondar is trying to get people to appreciate all we have here on earth through her photography.

Sault Ste Marie's Roberta Bondar is best known as Canada's first female astronaut, but she is also an accomplished photographer and her latest show opens tomorrow at the Algoma Art Gallery.

TheexhibitiscalledDreams&Realities:HumanSensitivityofPlace.ItfeaturesacollectionofartbyCaroleSabistonand photographs by RobertaBondar.

"There are 17 of mylarge landscape pieces, images," Bondarsaid. "[They] really reflect some of the beauty and shapes and forms and moods that earth has as a planet. There are no human beings in any of my images."

The two artists work with different visual media, but both voice concern for the protection of the natural environment and theunderstanding ofits vulnerabilities, the gallery said.

Roberta Bondar, who isoriginally from Sault Ste. Marie, is aneuro-physician and astronaut, now living in Toronto. She prints her work at the celebrated Toronto studio of Ed Burtynsky.

"Bondar has created a significant body of work exploring the detail, diversity and magnitude of Canadas national parks, capturing the richness of the flora, fauna, light and geology in each region," the gallery said.

Carole Sabiston is from Victoria andworks in textile assemblage.

"Sabiston builds her art with layer upon layer of translucent and opaque materials, some reflective, some new and some ancient. Flight, light, colour and space are her primary subjects," the gallery said.

The exhibition runs from Feb.14 toMay 24 at the Art Gallery of Algoma.