Cleveland, OH
216.231.4600
800.317.9155
Pole to Pole: The Arctic and Antarctic
Pittsburgh resident
and businessman Donald M. Robinson reached his goal as a photographer when
he traveled to the North Pole and South Pole to shoot breathtaking images
of these frozen worlds. His exhibit, "Pole to Pole: The Arctic and
Antarctic," featured 83 colored prints that were on display at The
Cleveland Museum of Natural History from July II through October 31, 1998.
Robinson, who developed two successful businesses, the White Cross drugstore chain of nearly 200 stores that became part of Revco in 1972 and 10-year-old Gateway Travel with 10 offices, has been taking photographs for 50 years. But in the last 10 years, he has been dedicated to perfecting this art form that he loves so dearly.
Whatever his subject, the quiet beauty of the eastern woodlands,
the open vastness of the West or the majestic desolation of the Earth's
polar regions, Robinson immerses himself in his photography. "Expeditions
to the Arctic and Antarctic were my ultimate goal," explained Robinson.
"Photography has given me a chance to share my joy in the majesty of
nature with others." Robinson, who is 72, made four expeditions to
the Poles. Three out of the four were on a Russian icebreaker that. has
two helicopters. His show includes numerous aerial shots, including one
taken above the icebreaker. "Robinson said, "Nothing can compare
with the sheer thrill and exhilaration of propelling through ice at 10 to
15 knots aboard an icebreaker or flying like Superman among huge icebergs
to reach the top of a glacier by helicopter." 
" The Antarctic is more dramatic then the Arctic,"
he said. The exhibit features a series of shots of different kinds of penguins
and elephant seals, along with landscapes and icebergs. In the Arctic where
the snow melts, he photographed images of flowering plants, landscapes and
a series of wildlife, including walruses, humpback whales and the polar
bear, the "Monarch of the Arctic." 
Robinson has studied with many professional photographers, including Cole Weston, Jay Maisel, William Neill and Arnold Newman. He has had numerous shows at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh; Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Altoona, Johnstown and Ligonier, PA; and Cornell Museum of Art in Delray Beach, FL, to name a few. Robinson's photographs are also in many permanent collections. He has had international recognition as well. Robinson was awarded EFIAP ( Artist of Excellence) by the Federation Internationale De L'Art Photographique.
General admission fees: $6.50 adults; $4.50 ages 5-17 and senior citizens; free for children 4 and under. The Museum is at I Wade Oval Drive in University Circle. Hours are: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Wednesday until 10 p.m. (September through May). Paid parking is available in the Museum's lot (90 cents per half hour, maximum $7.00). Additional parking is available on the street or in nearby lots in University Circle.
From top to bottom: In this landscape near Neumayer in
the Antarctic, photographer Donald M. Robinson strives to arouse curiosity
about a place that viewers may never have the opportunity to see for themselves;
This powerful polar bear is the undisputed monarch of the Arctic. Donald
M. Robinson, photographer; As parents, these Emperor penguins watch over
their single chick. One adult may walk as far as 100 kilometers (62 miles)
to the ice edge for squid and krill for the chick. Donald M. Robinson, photographer.
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