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Art

ArtSmart: A Look at the Art Scene in Vancouver

ArtSmart: A Look at the Art Scene in Vancouver

When you think of great art cities of the world you probably don’t think of Vancouver. I don’t really blame you either. There are plenty of cities that outrank Vancouver when it comes to art exhibitions of famed and historic artists. But once in a Pacific blue moon we are treated to historic greats and the art scene in Vancouver becomes even more alive.

As you can probably tell I am not much of a contemporary art lover. I favour nostalgia, artists who have come and gone and the only thing left to do is dig in to their context, their mysteries, their pasts in association with their work. Can you tell I am the nosy one in the family?

But before I get too ahead of myself let me first explain what ArtSmart is. If you’re unfamiliar, we are a group of bloggers who have a passion for travel and art. We write each month usually posting the first Monday on a designated topic or theme. This month we are writing about an art city of our choice. To see what my colleagues have written take a look at the bottom of this post.

 

Vancouver Art Gallery, Surrealist Exhibition 2011 via TheWanderfullTraveler.com
Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) Surrealism Exhibit 2011

As I was saying, Vancouver can get some real art exhibition gems. I was blown away by Vancouver Art Gallery’s Surrealism exhibit in 2011 where I saw my first works by Leonor Fini, Dali’s classic lobster phone, Duchamp’s ready mades and more. Since then I have been pinning for another grand exhibit like this and my calls were answered when the “Cézanne and the Modern” banner was hoisted tightly over the iconic columns of VAG. But during my visit I also found myself eating my words and loving something much more than the past…The contemporary!

Vancouver Art Gallery, Spring #ArtSmart

The Cézanne exhibition featured works collected by Henry and Rose Pearlman who were able to put together an impressive collection of works my modern masters during the 1940s and 50s. Their collection includes 26 Cézanne works among other greats but the exhibit focuses on the Modern masters in conversation with his work, citing Cézanne as the founder of Modern art.

It really is a thrill for me when I can see works like this within British Columbia. As you can imagine it doesn’t happen often enough. It’s a happy moment when I walk along the walls of the Vancouver Art Gallery and come face to face with an unexpected art piece by Toulouse-Lautrec or Van Gogh as it turned out during this visit.

 

Van Gogh as part of the Cézanne and the Modern Vancouver Art Gallery Exhibit 2015 #ArtSmart

 

But sometimes what you go to see isn’t always what most caught your attention. The Vancouver Art Gallery is also showing a contemporary Chinese art exhibit called “Unscrolled” where works are jarring compared to what I saw at the featured exhibit just a couple floors down.

From Al WeiWei’s Bang – where over 886 three legged stools, both antique and reproductions are stacked in a sublime state as the viewer cautiously wanders beneath them – to Liu Jianhua’s Traces where ominous porcelain ink blots drip down the walls as light blue porcelain vessels sit in the centre of this large room filled with what looks like blood – I was enjoying the stark contrast of the Modern European masters to the stark and sublime of the Chinese contemporary artists.

 

Al WeiWei's Bang (2011) held at the Vancouver Art Gallery 2015 #ArtSmart

 

Well worth the visit, the Vancouver Art Gallery is holding two of their most impressive exhibitions in years (according to me).

 

Liu Jianhua's Traces (2011) Held at the Vancouver Art Gallery 2015 #ArtSmart

Venturing away from Downtown Vancouver we head to the lesser visited False Creek where the Olympic Village was erected for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010. The entire neighbourhood, which wasn’t in existence before the announcement of Vancouver as the host city, is LEED Platinum. This certification means that the neighbourhood is doing its hard to reduce its carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. Some buildings are Net Zero energy, others are LEED Gold and some are LEED Platinum but together they make up a neighbourhood that had achieved LEED Platinum, the highest rating of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

False Creek & English Bay looking at Downtown Vancouver #ArtSmart

A large part of LEED is ensuring that the inhabitants of the community are happy, healthy and have outdoor spaces where they enjoy being apart of nature. In False Creek you can wander the neighbourhood and find community gardens, a habitat for birds where they are resurrecting the Bay area which has brought in a whale in to the English Bay, something that hasn’t happened in 75 years.

"The Birds" by Myfanwy McLeod #ArtSmart

But an integral part of the community is outdoor art spaces. One example are these sparrows (see above), fitting called The Birds by Myfanwy McLeod, set in the European inspired square (Olympic Village Plaza) where the community comes to eat outdoors, enjoy the views of the Bay and Downtown Vancouver. The Sparrows are jarring when you first enter the square. They peer at you no matter where you walk within the terrace. Despite their size they are realistic looking and actually have a implicit meaning.

Sparrows are not native to North America and were in fact introduced in the 1850s when there was a need for pest control. The little bird could provide it and did a much too efficient job. The Sparrows became an invasive species.
Thus such a small bird caused a big environmental issue in offsetting the ecosystems of North America.

Doulas Coupland's Digital Orca - Vancouver #ArtSmart

While not everyone likes The Birds there was talk of popular Canadian artist Douglas Coupland installing his Digital Orca (see above) in lieu of the sparrows. This idea was shot down but has since become a favourite installation at Vancouver’s Convention Centre, also a LEED Platinum building with over 400 place species and 60,000 bees upon its roof.

 

Another example of art in False Creek is the Human Structures  installation (see below) by American artist Jason Borofsky. With 64 cut out steel figures assembled and standing at seven metres tall the piece overlooks the bay and Downtown Vancouver.

Human Sculptures in False Creek #ArtSmart

 

 

 

ArtSmart

Christina of Day Dream Toursit wrote: Washington, DC: An Art & Culture Capital

Alexandra of ArtTrav wrote: The Art & The Travel Dog

Pal & Lydian of Art Weekenders wrote: Art City Break Cologne: Meeting Point for Pop Art & Saints

Welcome our newest member!
Lizzie of Wanderarti wrote: Puppetry, Street Performers and Local Creators: Art Festivals in Ljubljana

Explore Vancouver's Art scene by visiting these fun and immersive outdoor and indoor exhibit areas within the city centre.
Explore Vancouver's Art scene by visiting these fun and immersive outdoor and indoor exhibit areas within the city centre.
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About Murissa

Murissa is founder of FoodieTown.ca and you can join her on a food tour with FoodToursKelowna.com. Otherwise, you can find her roaming the Okanagan wine region of British Columbia with her 2 kiddos and hubby in tow.

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23 comments

  1. Wayne W Walls says:
    November 14, 2019 at 9:24 am

    That is all so beautiful! I definitely want to go see that art!
    Wayne W Walls recently posted..The Benefits and Drawbacks of Coworking SpacesMy Profile

    Reply
  2. dubaidesignweek.ae says:
    May 9, 2019 at 12:29 am

    Hi Murissa

    You provided a very good way to explore and experience Vancouver.

    Thanks and keep sharing.

    Reply
  3. nerdssupport says:
    January 16, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Butt I’ll need to make a trip back seeing this is a great hub for art! I’m always looking for something new and inspiring and Vancouver isn’t that far away! ?

    Reply
  4. Beth Cooper says:
    March 8, 2016 at 6:14 am

    WOW Vancouver is amazing city! Everything looks really nice! MUST see this museum and exhibit!

    Reply
  5. Jessica says:
    February 24, 2016 at 6:09 am

    Fantastic list of super interesting places to see! Can`t wait to check them all!

    Reply
  6. Erica Padmore says:
    February 10, 2016 at 3:54 am

    Vancouver? Why not? I am not a contemporary art lover either but ArtSmart seems to be an innovative way to express you own imagination and ideas without being modern as the other artist. I love unique features!

    Reply
  7. Gemma Tylor says:
    February 5, 2016 at 12:16 am

    What a great city! I’ve been longing to visit it for many years. Hope, I’ll manage to do that soon. Wanna definitely see this cubic orca alive.Their art culture is impressive!

    Reply
  8. Pingback: Two Very Different Museums in San Francisco
  9. Lesley Peterson says:
    April 3, 2015 at 8:14 am

    I love Digital Orca! And there couldn’t be a city more suited to outdoor art than beautiful Vancouver.
    Lesley Peterson recently posted..Circumnavigating Manhattan by boat, rare vistas of NYCMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Pingback: Fermented Firmament: Vancouver Craft Beer MarketThe Wanderfull Traveler
  11. Joe says:
    March 16, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    This is fantastic. A lot of new things to check out for sure. I am really enjoying your takes on the
    city. Look forward to the next one!!

    Reply
  12. Rachelle says:
    March 15, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    I visited Vancouver briefly on the way to go skiing in Whistler … looks like I need to go back in the springtime and check out all this art! My husband is an art enthusiast and he’d really enjoy going for a walk around the city to see these sculptures.
    Rachelle recently posted..Hotels Unstaged: Cameron HouseMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Jennifer says:
    March 15, 2015 at 3:55 am

    I haven’t been to Vancouver since the 80s, so all of this certainly wasn’t there. I’m not much in to paintings or portraits, but I do love large scale installation projects outdoors. It just adds such a unique vibe.
    Jennifer recently posted..13 Reasons to Go to Friuli Venezia Giulia Right NowMy Profile

    Reply
  14. paula schuck says:
    March 13, 2015 at 7:48 am

    I love public art and I enjoy visiting Vancouver. This is a great combination for a post about the city as well. I didn;t really understand what Leed meant until now – thanks for clarifying that for me.
    paula schuck recently posted..Ten Divine Pie RecipesMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Leigh says:
    March 11, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    I love all the outdoor art in Vancouver and I have been very impressed by the shows put on by the Vancouver Art Gallery. Vancouver isn’t Paris but I think I’ve always been impressed with what I’ve seen. I love your photos.
    Leigh recently posted..A Rocky Mountain House Weekend of Luxury & AdventureMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Ayngelina says:
    March 11, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    I’ve been to Vancouver a few times but sadly hadn’t seen all of this, next time I guess…
    Ayngelina recently posted..Whey Fermented Beet Carpaccio RecipeMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says:
    March 10, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    We’re just a two hour drive away from Vancouver and it’s always been an enjoyable travel destination. It has so much to offer and is in such a gorgeous setting! We haven’t yet fully explored the arts scene though and this was very informative and inspiring, thanks! (Love the photo of all the three-legged stools!)
    Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet recently posted..Antebellum Beauty: Historic Madison, GeorgiaMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Kirsten says:
    March 10, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    What a wonderful way to experience Vancouver!!
    Kirsten recently posted..International Women’s Day & an Interview with Katarina Alaupovic of RUBY MagazineMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Brooke says:
    March 4, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    I haven’t been to Vancouver in a long time, but I’ll need to make a trip back seeing this is a great hub for art! I’m always looking for something new and inspiring and Vancouver isn’t that far away! 🙂
    Brooke recently posted..The Employee You Should Hire: Theatre ArtistMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Christina says:
    March 3, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    I totally agree with you – Vancouver is definitely an art city! The city really embraces art as you can see in the public art pieces and building design. The museums sounds really great too with a nice balance of historical and modern exhibits. I visited Vancouver years ago and remember thinking that Granville Island had some cool shops with work by local artists so I think there is strong, active art scene.
    Christina recently posted..Washington DC: An Art and Culture CapitalMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Pingback: Washington DC: An Art and Culture Capital | Daydream Tourist
  22. Kelly @ TastingPage says:
    March 3, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    I was recently in Vancouver, setting off for a cruise and I’m bummed I missed all of this. Looks fabulous and you certainly lucked into some great weather. That’s some serious blue skies – great pics!
    Kelly @ TastingPage recently posted..Papa Christo’s Big Fat Greek Family Style DinnerMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Tamara says:
    March 3, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    this looks like an excellent museum and exhibit. I would be nervous walking under those stools but that type of exhibit is fascinating to me.
    Tamara recently posted..10 Reasons to Take the Family to the Quebec Winter CarnivalMy Profile

    Reply

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MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Hi! Murissa & Taryn here. We are sisters, foodies and founders, formerly The Wanderfull Traveler. Join us as we explore the Canadian food scene! Check out our YouTube foodie adventures and trusted restaurant recommendations here. We created the Foodie Card - coming to a Canadian city near you!

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