A Sealed Fate Exhibit

Saturday I went to the 401 Projects gallery to see Nigel Barker's photography exhibit.  For two weeks Nigel observed and photographed the harp seal pups in their nursery.  In that short span of time he watched them change from pure white to dappled gray.  He described lying on the ice with his camera as baby seals came up close, and even pressed their bodies against his as he stroked them.  At the end of those two weeks the hunt began, and Nigel watched as the little ones he had come to know were brutally and painfully slaughtered.  I stood there listening to him, feeling sick and angry and sad.  I cannot imagine how he put himself through what must have been both a rewarding and devastating experience.

 

I held the bat you see in Nigel's hands in my blurry photograph.  It felt lighter than a baseball bat, and incapable of smashing a tiny skull in one strike.  He said the hunters are untrained and often miss their target, instead breaking a shoulder or merely wounding a pup.  The hook on the floor at Nigel's feet is used the drag the seal pups along the ice while they writhe behind in bloody agony.  When he was finished speaking to the group I walked over and asked him to tell me what it was like to hear the echoes of thousands of skulls cracking.  I had once heard a woman, who witnessed the hunt up close, describe how she would never get the sound out of her mind.  Nigel told me that he observed from a mile away and could not hear, but that some of the baby seals screamed out when attached.

 

"The juxtaposition of the Harp seals giving birth and toddling around during the first two weeks of their lives in this beautiful, icy landscape with that of the sealers crashing through the ice leaving a sea of blood and guts in their wake was a sobering moment to say the least.  Rarely in my life had I felt so dehumanized by another's actions." - Nigel Barker

Comments

[Kim]

Fabulous. I love the eyes...they look like little gum drops...and so, so emotional.

[Omarcito]

The Eyes are amazing, I will never understand why is there so much selfishness in the human heart God made us to his image and God is love so why the brutally and painfully slaughtered in animals. I cannot imagine how Nigel was able to see such brutal abuse but I am glad that he is doing something to help these animals.

--Half Marathon was Awesome I ran for The American Cancer Society since I Volunteer for them and 4 other Charity. I try to encourage this lady that was given up @ 400 meters after holding her for 15mins she cried and said "I am really sorry young man but I cannot make it". It made my time slower but the experience was pricesless. Since was running in memory of her father and mother. I told her they will be proud and I will finish in there name.I was overly happy to help a stranger and able to finish in 2hrs.-
Thanks for your Support and encouragement Sir Frank!

[Frank]

Of course, it is all about their eyes. Not only big and round and black, but wet, as if with tears. And so low to the ground, they are always looking upward.

[Michele Kelly]

Omarcito - I'm sorry I don't know you, but your helping this woman actually brought tears to my eyes. How very selfless of you.

I too think it is amazing what Nigel has done for the seals...I give him great credit for being so strong as to stand by and not shoot the people who are slaughtering these beautiful and helpless animals. His work will make a difference.

[Irene]

The more this slaughter of these beautiful, sweet animals is brought to the forefront, the more chance there is of finally ending it!!!!!!! Omarcito...you are to be commended. You did a wonderful deed in taking the time to try to help this woman you did not even know. The world could certainly use more people like you, Nigel, and, of course, my Frank.