Robert Glenn Ketchum

Detail, perception and sensitivity of whole surroundings. The combination of these qualities lives in Ketchum's work. And behind the exceptional work is a deeply committed and talented man. --Robert Redford
Updated on the occasion of a five-year Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition, The Tongass, first published by Aperture in 1987, was instrumental in Congress's passage of the Timber Reform bill in 1990. Presenting Alaska's enduring natural wonders as well as its blighted forests and heavily industrialized ports, Ketchum also recounts the short-sighted policies implemented by industry and the federal government.

With Wood-Tikchik: Alaska's Largest State Park, Robert Glenn Ketchum continues his exploration of Alaska, now focusing on one of the most significant watersheds in the world. The Wood-Tikchik State Park, a vast wilderness, is home to moose, grizzly bears, eagles, salmon and one of the largest species of rainbow trout in the world. Accessible only by boat, plane, or on foot, these wild lands are nevertheless vulnerable to commercial exploitation. Ketchum's stunning images immerse viewers in the extraordinary detail, color and scale that defines this relatively unknown world of tundra and boreal forests, offering readers the unique experience of understanding the need to preserve this special ecosystem. In his accompanying essay, Bill Sherwonit provides an excellent account of the historical use of the park and makes a compelling case for protecting one of North America's most important watersheds from fragmentation and unnecessary development. “For several decades, Ketchum has followed the trail of Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter, focusing on threatened areas of our planet... The extraordinary details--the flow of colors, the depth, the multitude of textures--awaken the viewer to the fragile foundations of the grandest landscape: the mind.”
--Bonnie Barret Stretch, ARTnews