Local residents have the opportunity to see “Trucking Above the Arctic Circle” at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts this month.

The exhibit features about 40 images of some of the country’s most isolated roads in Alaska by New York-based photographer Patrick French.

French was born in Seymour and has family in the area, including Jane Hays who serves as co-president of the art’s center. He now works for Cummins in New York.

“I have an interest in the trucking industry as it is because I work in it,” he said. “This was cool.”

The photographs were taken during two trips French took to Alaska when he was able to observe truck drivers and wildlife along the Dalton Highway en route to Prudhoe Bay. The highway is featured on the popular History Channel show “Ice Road Truckers.”

“This is a unique sliver of the world because there are probably less than 100 truck drivers that use this highway,” he said during a reception at the center last week. “I essentially followed them up there.”

The drivers would start at Fairbanks, Alaska and follow the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline to the bay. The area is secluded because so few travel the road.

“It’s different there because there’s no internet, there’s no cellphones and when you get back, your phone goes insane.”

The trucks carry more than 100,000 pounds, which exceeds the average limit of 80,000 pounds, he said, and the drivers do not have driving limits. Road conditions pose a number of issues for drivers. Often times they become stranded while waiting for road crews to remove snow and ice.

“Some of them told me they’ve waited as many as three days before the snow was removed,” he said.

French, who greeted visitors and discussed the exhibit during the reception, said sharing them with people is a fun way to talk about his hobby.

“I really enjoy the idea of bringing it and sharing it here with people,” he said. “The cold and the trucks were what drew me to do this.”

The exhibit will be displayed through July 28 at the center, 2001 N. Ewing St. The center operates from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments also may be made by calling the center at 812-522-2278 or email at [email protected].

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Who: New York-based photographer Patrick French

What: “Trucking Above the Arctic Circle” will be on display at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts through July 28.

When: noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment (call 812-522-2278 or email at [email protected])

Where: Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, 2001 North Ewing Street, Seymour

[sc:pullout-text-end]