ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new art exhibit at Albany International Airport is highlighting the remarkable life and work of Canadian pilot Natalie Gillis, who died when her plane crashed minutes after taking off.
Gillis' mother, Mary Yap, arrived at Million Air Wednesday to see the exhibit alongside two of her daughter's closest friends. While she is still reeling from the loss of her daughter, she expressed immense gratitude to the airport staff, first responders, and surrounding community for the way they have supported her family through the tragedy.
"We're just thankful that we had her for 34 years. She was incredible. She was kind. She was gentle. She was an achiever," Yap told NEWS10, "and she achieved a great deal.”
Those achievements are evident in the breathtaking photographs Gillis took while adventuring all over the world. She captured wildlife in stunning motion from the South Pole to the Arctic.
"This is one of her favorites," Yap said as she pointed out a photo of a polar bear on display.
Gillis was committed to environmental conservation, traveling to remote corners of the world to show everyone else a slice of beauty we don't get to see in our everyday lives.
"She just she stepped foot where people rarely step foot, and she flew where people rarely flew," said Kira Davenport, a 19-year-old pilot and employee at Million Air. "It inspires me to get in the plane, or in my regular life, just to go out and do the things that you want to do, no matter what.”
Davenport met and spoke with Gillis the day she left the airport. She often goes to the crash site to clean it up and place flowers. She was inspired by meeting Gillis, and affected by her passing. Now, Davenport will walk into work daily to see visual reminders of her.
“It's a nice reminder of the person that she was, the places that she went, and her creative spirit," said Davenport.
When Gillis flew to these faraway places, she was exploring on the ground, too. She hiked, kayaked, and snowmobiled. She was a wilderness guide. She wrote poetry, which is printed alongside the photos at Million Air.
“It's remarkable that, in addition to everything else that she did on these expeditions, she was able to frame and photograph these places and write about them," said Kathy Greenwood, Director of Exhibitions and Programs at Albany Airport.
Greenwood said the exhibit will remain in the airport indefinitely.
Gillis' impact is certainly evident in the wake of her passing, but according to Yap, her infectious energy and beauty drew people to her orbit her whole life. Yap is touched by the hundreds of people who have written her cards and who came to the services.
"People came from Costa Rica. They came from the Arctic," Yap said, "she touched thousands of lives."
As she looked around the exhibit, Yap beamed with pride and told epic stories of Gillis' adventures.
"She is one of very few people who flew a Twin Otter across the Great Passage," Yap recalled.
"Time heals many things, and that's what we have to go on," Yap said. "The whole community are just incredible people--wonderful--and we thank you.”
