This club owns priceless artifacts, collected across the face of the earth over the last 115 years. This mounted exhibit was among the most poignant. This mounted head of a long departed young walrus, stares sadly at us, just below an “exit” sign. A massive elephant tusk enters the frame at the upper left, it’s curve echoing the circular plaque of this polar trophy. The huge tusk contrasts in size to the miniature tusks of this immature walrus. I converted this photograph to black and white to make it read more symbolic than descriptive. This baby walrus has made its own exit a long time ago, and the sign above its head provides a verbal reminder of its demise. The expression on its face conveys a mixture of innocence and surprise (the small tusks and wide eyes) To a greater degree, this image reminds us that the polar explorations of the early 20th century launched an environmental challenge that remains as difficult to resolve today as it did back then.