Pitchfork

Feist, Jarvis Cocker, and a bunch of other artists board a ship to the Arctic to investigate climate change. It sounds like a strange reality show, but it's actually straight-up reality.

Yesterday (September 25), a crew of scientists, artists, engineers, and journalists boarded a science research vessel in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland bound for Disko Bay. Soon, they'll travel across the front of the Jakobshavn Glacier, "one of Greenland's largest glaciers moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day," according to the description from expedition organizers Cape Farewell.

The point of the trip, in addition to scientific research, is "to inspire the creative team to respond to climate change both in the Arctic and on their return." Apparently, at the airport, "Feist checked her guitar (Robyn Hitchcock requested that everybody who has one bring it for a little Arctic jam)."

In addition to Feist and Jarvis Cocker, the list of musicians on board includes Robyn Hitchcock, Martha Wainwright, Ryuichi Sakamoto, KT Tunstall, Laurie Anderson, and...Vanessa Carlton. How fitting!

Here's a photo of Jarvis Cocker (that beard!) and KT Tunstall at the airport:

Folks can follow the expedition's progress through blogs, pictures, videos, and a podcast on Cape Farewell's website. The voyage ends October 6.

Thanks to Feist, whose MySpace blog tipped us off about the expedition.