Pretty Parking

I didn't know parking lots could be so pretty until I attended a free lecture put on by the Vancouver Institute; Saturday night about architect Bing Thom.

View of the parkade with soccer pitch above

The fascinating retrospective of the work of his office Bing Thom Architects Inc. entitled The Transformative Power of Architecture: The Works of Bing Thom, showcased projects in China, the US and on Canadian sole in Alberta and B.C. A look through the projects section of their website, will give you a visual representation of the slideshow he provided along with his insightful thoughts on how to better build cities and cultural spaces.

What most caught my attention was a project he completed in 2009 in Calgary, Alberta for the SAIT Polytechnic campus. Specifically they were asked to build a three-level parking facility which was to support a year round soccer pitch on the roof.

For most, parking garages are utilitarian in look and purpose. Usually they are made of ugly grey concrete, have bad lighting and even worse security which make them the least desirable place to spend time. 

Bing Thom and his team set out to make the SAIT parkade better, and succeded with architectural solutions to bad connotations that they bring. However they took it one step further and thought about aesthetics by hiring Vancouver artist Roderick Quinn.

Close up of punched holes

In combining a way to create ventilation for the parking facility without mechanical help, Roderick Quinn created 4x4 panels of clear anodized aluminum with holes strategically punched into them. These holes not only allowed for ventilation and natural light for the interior of the parkade, but on the exterior they create a giant outdoor work of art. As the sunlight interacts with the facade, the image of an Alberta prairie sky is depicted and changes as the sun rises and sets. Even at night time the image glows from the interior lights. 

Close up images of the Alberta sky image

I for one, would love to see more utilitarian buildings be made with as much thought, care and creativity as Bing Thom and his team have put into this parking facility. If architects, developers and city planners begin to open the discussion on how better to meet the needs of the end user, but also to add beauty to our urban landscape, we will all begin to see some positive changes in our communities. So I ask, are there other buildings and architects out there doing similar things around the world? I would love to hear from you and learn more!

East Van

Growing up in Vancouver, regardless of where, you understand the not so subtle differences between east and west.

"Monument to East Vancouver" by Ken Lum

Closer-knit dwellings with light industrial store-fronts illustrating the apparent cultural diversity of the area on one side and on the other you find wide-open spaces, houses with large lawns and chic boutiques.

Until recently, property value was the definitive factor between east and west, but with the escalating pr ices of real estate, the divide between them is now blurred.

It was this dichotomy between east and west that intrigued artist Ken Lum to design what he calls a cultural ‘marker’. The cross design of the words ‘east’ and ‘van’ each share an ‘a’ in the middle, was commissioned as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the 2010 Olympics.

Ken explained in a recent artist talk at the Vancouver Art Gallery that the cross is in reference to the working class catholic inhabitants of the east side of Vancouver in the 1940’s and 50’s, but since then the diversity of ethnic backgrounds has definitely changed and thus the cross takes on many more meanings. 

Interestingly he did not come up with the actual image as it has been found in graffiti tags across the east side for years; however it was important for him to showcase the hushed differences as a symbolic reminder for generations to come.

As a city changes, gentrifies and revitalizes itself, it is more important than ever before to have references to the past, to remind us of pivotal points in history that marks the very apparent changes.

Check out this Youtube video on the making of the sculpture.

This

The cast of "This" performing at Vancouver Playhouse Theatre

Self reflection is never easy, especially when a work of artistic fiction makes you confront your inner most thoughts. This is what "This" did for me.

Always a supporter of the arts, it was a no-brainer when I was invited by my good friend Fabrice, to watch him star in the performance of "This" at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre. Appreciating the talents of his photography (have a look at his blog / website for the most incredible photos - www.fabricegrover.com) I realized I had never seen him perform live!

Not only was his performance fantastic as the love interest for the one and only Meghan Follows (formally Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables.. my childhood favorite!) but the character he plays - a French doctor without borders, gave the fresh perspective to the self involved set of personalities and relationship issues presented in this play. There is a moment towards the end of the play where 'Jean-Pierre' makes the characters and the audience poignantly realize how petty it is to worry about the he-said she-said, self loathing and time wasting thoughts we all have, when people less fortunate than ourselves are suffering all around the world.

This continues to be, for me, the reason we need to keep all artistic pursuits alive in our schools and community at large. Art in all its forms is like a mirror, showing us the good, the bad and the ugliness of our society, and gives us pause to reflect on uncomfortable topics, such as our societal guilt and selfishness.

Silent Melodies

"Silent Melodies" by Mizzonk

When I am moved by the brilliance of how a piece of art is made,  I could stare at it for hours - lucky for me I have the rest of my life to do just that.

While perusing the many talented artisans at the One of Kind Vancouver show, I came across an amazing couple who make the most beautiful works of art by meticulously cutting out eye catching paper masterpieces.  With several creative series to choose from, each one is unlike the others.

In speaking to the one of the co-creators of the work, I was almost speechless  in my admiration at the skill and patience it must have taken to create each piece.  Silent Melodies as my new treasure is called is based on the essence of music and reminds me of both piano keys and even the metal plates that used to glide over the metal stubs on the music boxes we had as children.

The simplicity combined with the complexity of the design, is for me the most powerful part of this amazing Christmas gift.

Check out this amazing couple and all of the art, furniture and gifts they produce under the company name Mizzonk.. and they are based in Maple Ridge!

Everyday Object

When does an everyday object become fine art? When someone famous says it is.  Andy Warhol’s depiction of Campbell’s soup cans comes to mind as the ultimate reference of a household item that is synonymous with “high art”, which is collected, sold and hung in museums.

Many artists in the 20^th Century have followed suit, but none so prolifically as Damien Hirst who arguably is the most famous living artists today. Just as many have argued that silkscreen prints of soup cans is not ‘art’, so too have people snickered at the often scientifically morbid fascination Hirst has with preserving dead animals.

His notoriety is not only based on his subject matter, but also that he considers himself more as a businessman than an artist. Interestingly he has refused representation by the major art houses, and has chosen to sell directly to the major auction houses instead, therefore cutting out the middleman. Few artists have the shrewd ability to sell and market their own work, let alone catapult their careers in order to fetch millions of dollars for a single work of art during their lifetime.

Most notable was the sale of a shark killed in Australia, preserved in formaldehyde and encased in glass, that sold at Sotheby’s for $100, 000, 000 pounds. Now a shark is definitely not an everyday object, but preserving a dead animal, and calling it art is a far cry from soup cans.

Although Warhol and Hirst each explore very different subject matter they both had the technical know-how in creating their work, yet the question remains as to whether there is real creativity and artistic mastery present in the art they have produced?

I would argue that Hirst skirts a very fine line in creating a valuable contribution to the evolution in art (regardless of whether the art world values it as such) versus a scientific display of dead animals that people must now accept as commonplace in museums.

Gastown reenacted

“Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971”, (2008) by Stan Douglas

Front and centre when you walk through the large doors of the inner atrium doors of the Woodward’s building you are confronted with a controversial piece of art, for which the developers should be commended.

The light box photograph taken by renowned Canadian artist Stan Douglas entitled “Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971”, (2008). The photograph is a cleverly designed reenactment of the Gastown Riots, also known as “the Battle of Maple Tree Square”, which occurred when city police violently broke up a peaceful, pot-smoking demonstration on Water Street.

The photograph depicts the police violently busting up a demonstration—beating protesters, charging crowds on horseback, arresting dozens of people, while others take in the scene from the sidewalk; many smaller vignettes illustrating the larger story.

This riot led city officials to rezone Gastown, which was then being overtaken by Kitsilano hippies residing in industrial spaces, to then be zoned as strictly commercial.  How very ironic as the Woodward’s building is now predominantly high-end residential condos, perhaps being sold to the very community that was once driven away.

 While many crisp new apartment lobbies are filled with paintings, prints or sculptures of safe and recognizable artwork and not something that could perhaps offend, it is a reminder to all to recognize the art that has been purposely place for our enjoyment.

Spraypaint

"I Love You" 2010, by Fiona Ackerman

Colour and composition are what generally attract me to abstract paintings; so when a recent group show was displayed at the Diane Farris Gallery showcasing artist Fiona Ackerman, I was instantly drawn to her work.

Upon moving to Vancouver from Montreal, Ackerman swore that she would never become a landscape painter; but yet her work refers to and is inspired by the natural surroundings and the many “environments” experienced by us all.

Her approach to each canvas begins loosely, by continuously building, layer by layer over many months, as if participating in a larger conversation of drips, marks, and strokes to come to a final and lasting conclusion.

“There is a transformative moment in the process of making a painting when a metaphorical horizon emerges. Suddenly the painting has direction and the mess of colours and shapes begin to function in relation to one and other.” says Ackerman

The most vibrant work entitled “I Love You”, resonated profoundly with me as I searched for the letters of the works title, but also her use of spraypaint as a medium.

More often found on the sides of buildings than on canvas, the spraypaint for me, blends what we all understand as everyday “street art” with that of “high art” that is found in art galleries and museums. A pairing which for me, is sheer brilliance.

Colour and composition are what generally attract me to abstract paintings; so when a recent group show was displayed at the Diane Farris Gallery showcasing artist Fiona Ackerman, I was instantly drawn to her work.

Upon moving to Vancouver from Montreal, Ackerman swore that she would never become a landscape painter; but yet her work refers to and is inspired by the natural surroundings and the many “environments” experienced by us all.

Her approach to each canvas begins loosely, by continuously building, layer by layer over many months, as if participating in a larger conversation of drips, marks, and strokes to come to a final and lasting conclusion.

“There is a transformative moment in the process of making a painting when a metaphorical horizon emerges. Suddenly the painting has direction and the mess of colours and shapes begin to function in relation to one and other.” says Ackerman

The most vibrant work entitled “I Love You”, resonated profoundly with me as I searched for the letters of the works title, but also her use of spraypaint as a medium.

More often found on the sides of buildings than on canvas, the spraypaint for me, blends what we all understand as everyday “street art” with that of “high art” that is found in art galleries and museums. A pairing which for me, is sheer brilliance.