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Edmonton's Telus World of Science launches James Cameron-inspired exhibition

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Edmontonians can now take a step inside James Cameron’s head.

Telus World of Science Edmonton (TWOSE) opened its new exhibition titled James Cameron — Challenging the Deep to media and members on Friday. The exhibit, which showcases Cameron’s work as a deep-sea explorer, the submarine he used to explore the bottom of the Mariana Trench and artifacts from his film Titanic, opens to the public on Saturday.

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Edmonton is the first Canadian city to host the travelling exhibition which was produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum along with the Avatar Alliance Foundation. The TWOSE is the first to display Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger, the sub he used in the Mariana Trench.

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“We have always wanted to include the submarine in an exhibit but there’s a lot of different logistics in getting it into a space and Edmonton was a fabulous space to finally make that happen,” said Kim Butts, design director for the Avatar Alliance Foundation, who joked she thinks they had to used shoehorns to get the sub through the exhibit’s hallway.

The green submarine is in the middle of the exhibit and visitors can examine it up close along with the crew capsule — a white sphere about one metre in diameter that carried Cameron on his seven-hour deep dive into the trench. People can sit in a replica sphere to get an idea of Cameron’s surroundings during his solo dive.

Also scattered throughout the exhibit are items from Cameron’s film career such as his copy of the Titanic shooting script, clothing worn by Jack and Rose, submarine design drawings on hotel room notepad paper and videos projected on screens throughout.

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Butts said during Cameron’s first time seeing the exhibit they were having a conversation when Cameron heard his own voice playing in one of the exhibit’s videos and he said it felt like he was inside his own head — Butts said that’s actually what the exhibit is.

Monica Roberts, TWOSE’s director of science experiences, said the exhibit has many different elements that tie together to create one experience.

“It’s an amazing exhibit and on top of it, it’s so cinematic because James Cameron is a director,” said Roberts. “So, of course what would it be without a giant screen showing you, with beautiful narrative and music, the challenges and the stories that he is excited to bring forward around deep-sea ocean and ocean conservation.”

Roberts added the exhibit gives an opportunity to talk about the deepest parts of the ocean, an area that those living in Edmonton may not be familiar with since they’re in a landlocked province. She said they have developed ways to meaningfully connect people to the underwater experience.

Along with the exhibit, people can purchase tickets to watch the accompanied IMAX film titled Deepsea Challenge, which follows Cameron and his team through the process of designing, building and deploying the submarine specifically designed for the descending journey into Mariana Trench.

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Butts said the IMAX film takes a deeper dive into the building process and the people and emotions involved in creating the Deepsea Challenger.

Alan Nursall, president and CEO of TWOSE, said anyone interested in adventure and exploration should come take the tour through Cameron’s life.

“It’s full of things that you’re just never going to see anywhere else and if you take the time to take in the videos, take in the artifacts, it’s a really compelling and moving experience,” he said.

Nursall said the exhibit will be open until early April.

ktaniguchi@postmedia.com

twitter.com/TaniguchiKellen

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