A new exhibition at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California highlights the

pivotal work of Edward Burtynsky, a Canadian photographer who has spent three
decades focusing his lens on the multitude of ways that industry is drastically
transforming our planet's natural landscapes.

Titled "Art/Act: Edward Burtynsky," the riveting showcase largely focuses on the
photographer's powerful "Water" series, which takes viewers on a sobering tour of
landscapes where the relationship between humans and water have become
altered — and in some cases, devastated — as a result of increasing industrial
demands.

Just a few of the locations that were documented for the series include Arizona's
Salt River, the aquaculture farms of China, California's dwindling Shasta Lake
Reservoir and the polder landscapes of the Netherlands (pictured below).
 Polders, Grootschermer The Netherlands, 2011 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto/Rena
Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)

"My hope is that these pictures will stimulate a process of thinking about something
essential to our survival; something we often take for granted — until it's gone,"
Burtynsky writes on his website.
Alongside pieces from his "Water" series, the exhibition will also be showcasing
work from a few of his other photographic projects, like "Quarries" (below).

Rock of Ages #1, Active Section, E.L. Smith Quarry, Barre, Vermont, USA, 1991 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas
Metivier Gallery, Toronto/Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)
"These images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence;
they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear,"
Burtynsky writes in his artist statement. "We are drawn by desire — a chance at
good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is
suffering for our success."

Whether it's water, stone, oil, minerals or some other natural resource, Burtynsky's
images are masterful in demonstrating the staggering scope and scale of
humanity's impact on the Earth.

Nickel Tailings #30 Sudbury, Ontario, 1996 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto/Rena Bransten
Gallery, San Francisco)
The exhibition is paired with the annual presentation of the Art/Act Award, which
the David Brower Center first established seven years ago to celebrate and
acknowledge artists who have dedicated a substantial portion of their art and
careers to activism.

"Edward Burtynsky's work represents the core of the David Brower Center's vision
for an 'art of advocacy,'" Jackie Hasa, managing director of Community
Partnerships and Exhibitions at the Center, explains. "His art connects its audience
to the beauties of nature and the threats to it, deepens awareness of the promise
and sorrows of human society, and inspires more people to participate in
environmental and social activism."
 Shasta Lake Reservoir, Northern California, USA, 2009 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery,
Toronto/Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)

Past honorees of the Art/Act Award include Richard Misrach, who broke new
ground with his large-scale ecologically-focused photography; Maya Lin, the
designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and Chris
Jordan, whose imagery of garbage and mass consumption provide a harrowing
perspective of our society.

Continue below to see just a small selection of Burtynsky's work. If you'd like to
view more of these remarkable photographs in person, the exhibition opens Sept
18 and will run until Feb. 4, 2016.
Colorado River Delta #8, Salinas, Baja, Mexico, 2012 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto/Rena
Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)
Xiaolangdi Dam #2, Yellow River, Henan Province, China, 2011 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery,
Toronto/Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)
Marine Aquaculture #2, Luoyuan Bay, Fujian Province, China, 2012 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery,
Toronto/Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)
Carrara Marble Quarries #12, Carrara, Italy, 1993 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto/Rena
Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)
 Dryland Farming #1, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010 (Photo: © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery,
Toronto/Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco)

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Catie Leary ( @catieleary ) writes about science, travel, animals and the arts.

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