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Shaun O'Boyle: Polar Environments

CAE2013

Summary Note

Shaun O’Boyle visited Antarctica three times with the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program (AAWP), where he photographed the built and natural environments of McMurdo, Palmer, and Amundsen Scott Stations.He also photographed Iceland and Svalbard, Norway, as part of his Guggenheim Fellowship.

Biographical Note

Shaun O’Boyle studied architecture at Parsons School of Design and has worked both as a photographer and in the architecture/design field for the past 30 years. He is a three-time grantee of the National Science Foundation’s Artist and Writers Program, and the recipient of a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography. He hosted the Smithsonian Magazine Instagram feed for a week from both the South Pole and Palmer Station.
He has traveled and photographed on all seven continents and has shown work in galleries and museums in Boston, NY, and the Berkshires in MA. His work has appeared in various publications and books including Smithsonian Magazine and Lenswork. His book Modern Ruins, Portraits of Place in the Mid-Atlantic Region was published in 2009 by Penn State University Press, and he has designed and self-published eight books of his photographs.

Scope and Content

Access for artists to the Antarctic mainland is almost exclusively granted through the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program (AAWP), the federal agency that administers the scientific activity of the United States and its three stations on the continent.

In 2015 O’Boyle worked to document the built and natural environment of McMurdo Station, in 2017 the Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula, and in 2019 the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. He is one of the few artists to be granted multiple trips to the Antarctic, and the only one to assemble a typology of the United States’ built environment on the continent. O'Boyle's project sees architecture as shelter and scientific instrument, and for its capacity to engage history and narrative in a place almost devoid of human history. He explores how human and natural histories have shaped these regions and landscapes, and how our complex relationship with Antarctica is revealed at the intersection of the landscape with the architecture, culture, history, and science of the continent.

O’Boyle was also granted a Guggenheim Fellowship during this time to photograph in regions of the Arctic including Svalbard, Iceland, and Canada. The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, and the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum have exhibited this work.

Materials include research materials, National Science Foundation applications, maps, and photographic prints.

Arrangement

The series are organized by date. Series 1-3 and 5 are organized by date and location in Antarctica. Series 4 contains materials related to the successful Guggenheim Fellowship application of 2016.

Inclusive Dates

1965-2019

Bulk Dates

2015-2019

Quantity / Extent

.75 cubic feet

Language

English, Icelandic

Related Archive Collections

  • CAE1107: Stephen Eastaugh: Antarctic Work
  • CAE1103: Joan Myers: Wondrous Cold, An Antarctic Journey
  • CAE1116: Chris Drury: Antarctica
  • CAE1307: Chris Kannen: An Antarctic Extended Season
  • CAE1219: Stuart Klipper: The Antarctic: From the Circle to the Pole
  • CAE1218: Jean de Pomereu: Antarctic Photographs
  • CAE1217: Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid: Ice Music
  • CAE1202: David Rosenthal: Paintings of the North and South Polar Regions
  • CAE1112: Simon Balm: Stellar Axis, Antarctica
  • CAE1117: William L. Fox: Terra Antarctica
  • CAE1911: Donald Fortescue: Instrument (90°S)
  • CAE1910: Helen Glazer: Walking in Antarctica
  • CAE1903: David Arnold: Antarctic Re-Explorations
  • CAE1605: Anna McKee: 68,000 Years of Ice
  • CAE1806: Bruce Licher: Stamping Antarctica

Related Publications

O’Boyle, Shaun. Portraits of Place in Antarctica. Self-published, 2016.

O’Boyle, Shaun. Portraits of Place in Antarctica. Self-published, 2017.

Container Listing by Series:

CAE2013/1 Series 1: Unfunded NSF AAWP Applications, 2008-2013

Series 1 contains the unfunded National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctic Artist and Writers Program (AAWP) applications and reviews.

  • ARCH-FILE 88-1

    • 1-1 2008 NSF AAWP Application, 2008
    • 1-2 2013 NSF AAWP Application, 2013

CAE2013/2 Series 2: McMurdo Station, Antarctica, 1964-2017

Series 2 contains the successful 2014 National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctic Artist and Writers Program (AAWP) application and reviews, research materials, travel logistics ephemera, photographic prints, a book concept development document, and press materials.

  • ARCH-FILE 88-1

    • 2-1 2014 NSF AAWP Application, 2014
    • 2-2 Antarctic Research, 1964-2015
    • 2-3 Travel Logistics, Maps, and Site Plans, 2001-2015
    • 2-4 Photographic Prints and Video, 2015-2016
    • 2-5 Book Concept Development, 2015-2017
    • 2-6 Press Materials and Award, 2016-2017

Additional Materials

  • Archive F19 Oversized Items

    • 2-4#1 100’ High Tabular Iceberg, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#2 Arrival Heights, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#3a Bench, Cape Evans, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#3b Cape Evans Bench, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#4 Biology Bench, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#5 Cape Crozier, Color photograph, Pigment on 75 gsm Asuka rice paper, 2015
    • 2-4#6a Cape Crozier, B&W photograph, Pigment on 75 gsm Asuka rice paper, 2015
    • 2-4#6b Igloo Spur, Cape Crozier, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#7 Cape Evans Galley, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#8 Cape Evans Hut (Interior), Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#9 Cape Evans Hut (Exterior), Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#10a CosRay Building, McMurdo, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#10b Untitled (CosRay), Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#11 Erebus & Hut Point Peninsula from Black Island, Color photograph, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#12a Fish Hut #3, McMurdo Sound, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#12b Fish Hut #3, McMurdo Sound, Pigment on Asuka rice paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#13 Hut Point Ridge and McMurdo Sound, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#14 Lake Bonney, Taylor Valley, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#15 Mount Lister from New Harbor, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#16 Observation Hill, McMurdo Station, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#17 Physical Bench, Cape Evans, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#18 Physical Bench, Cape Evans, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#19 Preparing for a Dive, Explorer’s Cove, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#20 Shackleton’s Hut, Cape Royds, Antarctica, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#21 Terra Nova Hut, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#22 Terra Nova Hut, Cape Evans, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#23 The Knoll, Cape Royds, Antarctica, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#24 The Tenaments, Cape Evans, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#25 Toward Ferrar Glacier, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#26 Weddell Seal, Pigment on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta Glossy FineArt paper 315 gsm, 2015
    • 2-4#27 Wilson’s Igloo, Cape Crozier, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2015
    • 2-5#2 Portraits of Place in Antarctic, Pigment on 310 gsm Canson Baryta Photographique II paper, 2015 – 2017

CAE2013/3 Series 3: Palmer Station, Antarctica, 2015-2017

Series 3 contains the successful 2016 National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctic Artist and Writers Program (AAWP) application and reviews, travel logistics ephemera, and photographic prints.

  • ARCH-FILE 88-1

    • 3-1 2016 NSF AAWP Application, 2016-2017
    • 3-2 Travel and Logistics, 2015-2017
    • 3-3 Photographic Prints, 2017

Additional Materials

  • Archive F19 Oversized Items

    • 3-3#1 Antenna, Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#2 Laurence M. Gould Ice Breaker at Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#3 Marissa Gaeoke, Research Associate, in the Terra Lab, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#4 Marr Ice, Piedmont, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#5 Neumayer Channel, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#6 Neumayer Channel, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2017
    • 3-3#7 Neumayer Channel, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2017
    • 3-3#8 Neumayer Channel, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2017
    • 3-3#9 Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#10 Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#11 Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#12 Palmer Station Backyard, Arthur Harbor & Marr Ice Piedmont, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#13 Palmer Station, Torgersen Island, Litchfield Island from Marr Ice Piedmont, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017
    • 3-3#14 Waste Office, Palmer Station, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, October 2017

CAE2013/4 Series 4: Guggenheim Fellowship, 2016-2019

Series 4 contains the 2016 Guggenheim application and award materials, as well as the research, travel logistics, and photographic prints from Iceland and Svalbard.

  • ARCH-FILE 88-1

    • 4-1 Guggenheim Fellowship Application and Award, 2016-2017
    • 4-2 Svalbard, July 2017 & March 2019, Arctic Research, Not dated
    • 4-3 Svalbard, July 2017 & March 2019, Photographic Prints, 2019
    • 4-4 Iceland, February & May 2018, Research and Travel Logistics, 2018
    • 4-5 Iceland, February & May 2018, Photographic Prints, 2018

Additional Materials

  • Archive F19 Oversized Items

    • 4-2#1 Coal Truck, Adventdalen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#2 Endalen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#3 Hiorthhamn, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#4 Polar Bear on Van Mijenfjorden, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta Glossy FineArt paper 315 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#5 Contact Sheet, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#6 Contact Sheet, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#7 Contact Sheet, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#8 Contact Sheet, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#9 Contact Sheet, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-2#10 Contact Sheet, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 4-5#1 Barn, Iceland, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2018
    • 4-5#2 Draugurinn i Drangshlid, Iceland, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2018
    • 4-5#3 Dyrhölaey, Iceland, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2018
    • 4-5#4 Myrdalssandur Sand Flats at Hyjörleifshöfsi, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2018
    • 4-5#5 Steamship Sudurland, Djupavik, Iceland, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2018
    • 4-5#6 Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2018

CAE2013/5 Series 5: Amundsen Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, 2012-2020

Series 5 contains the successful 2018 National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctic Artist and Writers Program (AAWP) application and reviews, research materials, travel logistics ephemera, photographic prints, and press materials.

  • ARCH-FILE 88-1

    • 5-1 2018 NSF AAWP Application, 2018
    • 5-2 Research, 2019
    • 5-3 Travel Logistics, Maps, and Site Plans, 2012-2019
    • 5-4 Photographic Prints, 2019
    • 5-5 Press Materials, 2019-2020

Additional Materials

  • Archive F19 Oversized Items

    • 5-4#1 ½ Million Gallons of Fuel, South Pole, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#2 2nd Crater, Arrival Heights, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#3 Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#4 Bicep 3 Telescope, South Pole, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#5 Bicep Array Telescope Interior, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#6 Dark Sector Lab, South Pole, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#7 Electric Shop, South Pole, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#8 Fuel Arch Stair to Surface, South Pole, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#9 IceCube Lab, Dark Sector, South Pole, Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#10 IceCube Lab with Sun Halo, South Pole, Pigment on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta Glossy FineArt paper 315 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#11 Logistics Arch, South Pole, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#12 South Pole (Contact Sheet), Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#13 South Pole (Contact Sheet), Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#14 South Pole (Contact Sheet), Pigment on Canson Baryta Photographique II paper 310 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#15 South Pole Telescope, Pigment on Asuka paper 75 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#16 Sugar Shack, South Pole Backyard, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2019
    • 5-4#17 Toward Arrival Heights, Pigment on Asuka paper 150 gsm, 2019