Protect our Glaciers
A project created to inform about how vital glaciers are for our entire ecosystem and raise funds for Protect Our Winter Switzerland (POW).
“Glaciers are the ambassadors
of climate change.
The ice is melting at an unprecedented pace impacting water availability and livelihood.
If we don’t act now, Swiss glaciers might completely disappear by 2100, and water supply from the mountains would shorten by up to 50% during summer.”
Dr. Matthias Huss
Professor for Glaciology
ETH Zürich
From the mountains to the city - we are all affected by the melting of the glaciers. Scroll down to discover how you can support the cause.
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Photographs by Maja Juzwiak created during her stay at Hotel Pollux in Zermatt to raise funds for the organisation Protect Our Winters (POW) Switzerland, supported by Impact Hub Zürich.
The images are currently being exhibited at CERVO Zermatt.
“In the summer of 2021, while hiking through the lost valley in Zermatt, Switzerland, the rivers created by the melting glacier caught my attention.
During the same week, I did another hike in the region and was confronted with other rivers created by different glaciers- all watering down to the valley.
The thought that glaciers are losing their presence throughout the years pressed into my mind during my entire stay.
The idea of creating art to raise awareness about the facts and find solutions to tackle the issue arose. Selling illustrative images would be a first step in supporting an organisation engaged in the subject.
What was then initiated only as an idea came to fruition in the summer of 2022.”
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Protect Our Winters (POW) has been active in Switzerland since 2017 and, within a few years, has become the most crucial climate protection organisation in the Swiss outdoor community.
They rely on positive and emotional communication to channel their passion for nature and the mountains into concrete climate protection measures.
They are involved in the following four sectors: Advocacy, Nutrition, Mobility and Education.
Their goal is to strengthen the outdoor community's commitment to climate protection through positive communication and awareness-raising, as well as political advocacy.
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The images were created during a stay at Hotel Pollux, a family-run hotel centrally located on the main street of Zermatt. The owner is descended from the family of the first Matterhorn mountain climber, Peter Taugwalder, an event that occurred in 1865.
The fine art prints are currently on display in the Alpine Rooms of the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt.
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We created two events after the images were finalized to exhibit the results and engage people in the conversations - one in the mountains and one in the city to connect both locations symbolically:
“So close, but yet so far”The first event, showcasing the first set of images, took place in Zermatt at the centrally located Hotel Pollux, where the artist stayed while documenting the glaciers in the region.
It was an intimate get-together with local wine and finger food
provided by the Hotel at the bar.The name refers to the glaciers—even though Zermatt is close to them, they are retreating more and more, and the distance of reach is increasing yearly.
“So far, but yet so close”
Also, here, the title refers to the glaciers - even though they are physically located far away, the impact of the melting is greater than we imagine.
Three months later, the second event took place in the city of Zürich. It attracted 50 people from various backgrounds, all interested in preserving nature. We had a thorough presentation of the project, the release of the second series of images and keynote speeches of four experts, bringing different perspectives and initiatives towards the same subject:
Luc Heering - Alliance Manager at POW Switzerland
Eliane Albrecht - Program Manager Climate Action & Circular Economy at Impact Hub Zürich
Felix Keller - a glaciologist who has been developing a unique solution for the matter at hand
James Niederberger - Snowboarded, carpenter, engineer, and POW Alliance member.
The event ended with wine from the Valais and food sponsored by Äss-Bar. Click here to see some impressions of the event.
22 limited-edition photographs were created and offered for sale to support actions aimed at protecting our environment.
50% of the sales will be donated to Protect Our Winter Switzerland - a nonprofit committed to implementing concrete climate protection measures.
Are you up for being part of the change?
Fine Art Prints
Explore below the fine art prints create to raise funds for the cause. 50% of the sale of the images will be donated to POW. Click in the image for more details.
You don’t want to buy a photograph but still, contribute to the cause? You can choose to donate a preferred amount directly to Protect Our Winter Switzerland.
The details behind (FAQ)
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In the summer of 2021, while hiking through the lost valley located in the surroundings of Zermatt, Switzerland, the rivers created by the melting glacier caught my attention.
During the same week, I did another hike in the region and was confronted with other rivers created by different glaciers- all watering down to the valley.
The thought that glaciers are losing their presence throughout the years pressed into my mind during my entire stay.
The idea flew in of creating art to raise awareness about the fact. And with it, support an organization engaged in the subject with the sale of the pieces, like this, not only raising awareness but also acting against climate change.
When expressing the thought to Hotel Pollux, they were immediately willing to support it.
What initiated as an idea is coming to fruition in 2022.
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While working with photography in various Hotels in Zermatt, Switzerland, Maja explored a few of the region's glaciers - the Findel Glacier, Gorner Glacier and Zmutt Glacier. Research, searching for the perfect timing of the day and hiking were part of the process.
Most images were created with the drone, while a few were also taken with the camera.
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Climate change was the main focus - the glaciers are melting rapidly, and we all should give more attention to the cause. After thorough research, POW Switzerland was the organisation that best fit the criteria - individuals committed to making an impact and striving for positive change, engaging an entire community and who personally share the vision of a better future.
Outdoor lovers are the ones who face the scary outcomes of climate change the most. In nature, they experience it daily. They can raise their voices for change and share their observations with individuals physically farther away from this alarming reality. And together, act for impact.
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In the project's scope, two events were created to exhibit the images and bring individuals together to exchange information about the subject. The idea was to connect the mountains and the city, bringing the topic to both regions since it affects us all. In the mountains, the motto is “so close, but yet so far”. The mountain villages are physically close to the glaciers but far away from finding a solution to the problem. Also, the glaciers are retreating yearly, becoming farther away from the valley and, in some cases, even disappearing.
In the city, the topic is “so far, but yet so close”. Even though the city is physically far from the glaciers and not so clearly visible, the problem impacts the citizens closely.
we are all affected by the outcomes of climate change, independent of where we choose to reside.
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a total of 22 pictures are available for sale, representing the year that the project was created - 2022.
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For each picture, there is a limited total number of prints available - 78. In 78 years, we will reach the year 2’100, the pivot point where, if we don’t start acting now, all glaciers in Switzerland will no longer exist.
The number 78 was then divided into 4 four categories to give contributors the option of choice:
a total of 25 copies for the size 20 x 30 cm (whereas 50% of the sale will be donated to POW)
a total of 25 copies for the size 30 x 45 cm (whereas 50% of the sale will be donated to POW)
a total of 25 copies for the size 40 x 60 cm (whereas 50% of the sale will be donated to POW)
a total of 3 copies for the size 80 x 120 cm (whereas 75% of the sale will be donated to POW) - a premium, exclusive option.
Special edition, available at CERVO Mountain Resort:
size: 65 x 140 cm
High-quality print mounted on Alu-Dibond with natural oak wood shadow gap frame, ready to hang.Limited edition with only 10 copies available. 50% of the sale will be donated to POW.
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framing is not included in your order (except for the CERVO special edition, where the images are delivered “ready to hang”.
What does that mean exactly? When ordering an image, you will receive the print only.
We work with a trusted framing supplier in Zürich, and below, you will find their standard price list for the frame "Alpha Eiche Weiss" with normal glass:
20 x 30 cm CHF 63
30 x 45 cm CHF 123
40 x 60 cm CHF 131For the size 80 x 120 cm, please contact us directly.
If you're interested, it is possible to deliver the print directly to the framing supplier and pick it up there. Unfortunately, they do not offer delivery service, but they are located right next to the train station Stadelhofen in Zürich.
If you want to purchase the framing as per the above prices, please include the below address in your order:
Art Poster Gallery Zurich AG
Stadelhoferstrasse 28
8001 ZürichThe payment would happen separately via TWINT or bank transfer. We will contact you with all the details.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding this process or would like further assistance. We'll be happy to assist: create@majajuzwiak.com.