The history of the Crowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta is one of subtle and dramatic shifts. The area is notable for its geological formations, history of resource extraction, and the 1903 Frank Slide incident when the eastern slope of Turtle Mountain gave way in a rockslide, burying a part of the young mining town below. Over the years, the coal mining industry that once served as the community’s economic bedrock gradually shut down, and the area has become increasingly dependent on tourism. The shards of crumbled limestone that remain scattered at the site of the rockslide have proven to be a draw for many curious visitors, but also serve as a humbling reminder of an ever-evolving environment. The site is a stark counter-narrative to the popular conception of mountains as steady, permanent fixtures.

In 2015, Canmore-based artist, Tyler Los-Jones, began his investigation of the Crowsnest Pass during a residency program organized by the Southern Alberta Art Gallery at the Gushul Studio in Blairmore, Alberta. He recalls encountering the region’s stories in the way one encounters bands of strata—there are those that are large and obvious that you can determine at a distance and those that are more contorted that you need to experience up close. The layered geological and economic narratives within the region became the basis for the photographs and sculpture in this exhibition, along with references to orientation markers that have helped people navigate the dynamic environment.