Disappearing Before Our Eyes

“The sustained focus and lyrical engagement of Peter Cunningham’s work has been most profound in his bearing witness to ‘The Rock’ and its people — fishermen, clamdiggers, dulse pickers, worshippers, toddlers, centenarians, shipbuilders and ship wreckers, quilters, and bakers.” — Alison Hawthorne Deming

Nestled in the sparkling waters of the Bay of Fundy, Grand Manan Island is a haven of natural beauty, accessible only by ferry, boat, and airplane. For more than a century, visitors have spent the summer months on the Island. Year round, it’s home to a network of communities and a thriving fishery.

Peter Cunningham first came to Grand Manan as a child, accompanying his father, who was studying the fog on nearby Kent Island. As a child, he observed how traditional methods of fishing were already changing with the advent of new technologies like fathometers and radar.

Today, the pace of change has quickened. Disappearing Before Our Eyes chronicles contemporary island life on Grand Manan, from the fishing industry impacted by new technology, uncertain market conditions, and climate change, to the stories of island residents — the memories of older generations and the hopes of the young. As Cunningham writes, “I’ve been privileged to have lived my life in community with six generations of Grand Mananers. In this book I’m honouring what is disappearing, but also a place teeming with human life and unpredictable promise.”