Garde Arts Center Presents POLAR OBSESSION: PAUL NICKLEN 4/16

Travel with National Geographic photographer and biologist Paul Nicklen to the ends of the earth on April 16 at the Garde Arts Center. The event is part of the new "Faces of Our Planet" series, created by Sea Research Foundation, National Geographic Live and the Garde Arts Center to reveal the mysteries and discoveries of the world's human, animal and geographic faces.

The five-part series consists of film, live performance and multimedia presentations - all at the nationally-recognized Garde Arts Center at 325 State St., New London. Paul Nicklen's presentation, titled "Polar Obsession" after his recently-released book, marks the fourth event in the series.

During his presentation, suitable for ages 12 and up, Nicklen will share his terrifying, humorous and awe-inspiring stories from under the ice, such as the time he spent four days with a leopard seal that continuously tried to feed him penguins. These stories are complemented by magnificent images of the animals that inhabit the Arctic and Antarctic, from polar bears and walrus to narwhals and penguins. He will also discuss the impact of climate change on animal habitats he has observed.

Nicklen grew up in a small Inuit community in Canada's Arctic, where he spent years observing wildlife and exploring the landscape. After earning a degree in biology at the University of Victoria, Nicklen returned to the Northwest Territories and began his career as a biologist. Soon after, he grew tired of data gathering and resigned his job, setting out on a three-month expedition to pursue his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer with only a camera, backpack and inflatable canoe.

Since then, Nicklen has specialized in photographing the polar regions and their inhabitants, with an emphasis on underwater photography. His work has won numerous World Press Photo awards, most recently for his December 2009 National Geographic story on South Georgia, Antarctica.

After the program, Nicklen will sign copies of his new book, Polar Obsession, which features 160 of his latest and best polar images, his incredible stories of animal encounters and critical new insights into animal behavior and climate change. Since its release, this influential book has earned its own category on the game show "Jeopardy!" and was recommended by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine as one of 2009's top 10 gifts under $50.

The last "Faces of Our Planet" event, featuring famed oceanographer and Institute for Exploration President Dr. Robert Ballard, takes place on May 14. For more details on this event and the entire series, visit searesearch.org or call (860) 572-5955.

The Multimedia presentation by Arctic biologist and photographer Paul Nicklen is part of the new "Faces of Our Planet" event series, created by Sea Research Foundation, National Geographic Society and the Garde Arts Center. The event will take place Friday, April 16 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, CT 06320.

Tickets are $24, Mystic Aquarium members - $20. VIP tickets - $54 (includes admission to pre-show reception with Paul Nicklen).

For a complete list of ticket options, including discount packages, visit the Garde Arts Center Box Office at 325 State St., New London, or call (860) 444-7373 ext.1. Single tickets are available at the Garde Arts Center Box Office and online at gardearts.org. Special pricing is available for students, groups and Mystic Aquarium members.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

About Garde Arts Center
Founded in 1985, the Garde Arts Center was created to save and transform the historic Garde theatre into a non-profit regional center for the performing arts and education in the heart of downtown New London, serving greater Southeastern Connecticut, a region rich in geographic, economic, ethnic and cultural diversity. The Garde owns and operates the recently restored 1,450-seat Garde Theatre, a historic movie/vaudeville house built in 1926 and the new 130-seat Oasis Room.

About National Geographic Live
National Geographic Live is the live events division of the National Geographic Society, featuring live concerts, films, and dynamic presentations by today's leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers, and photographers covering a wide range of topics including: exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat conservation; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration, and education. For more information visit www.nglive.org.

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