I recently read Hilary Steward's "Looking At Indian Art of the Northwest Coast" which opened my eyes in how to parse this type of art, and I wanted to share the basics of how to recognize the elegant layout, the musical composition where white space and shape provide balance in an almost Escher-esque repetition of form. Below is a small preview of the basic concepts, quoting from the book:
As always, the Parker Street Studios opened its doors for the Eastside Culture Crawl. Parker Street Studios is a 100-year-old Vancouver landmark, hosting 4 floors of artists diverse in style and discipline. This 152,000 square foot industrial building was originally home to the Restore Mattress factory and now features 110 studios for over 200 artists, designers, photographers, woodworkers, and more all creating under one roof.
Despite many odds, recordings of the ancestral Songs of the Kwakwaka’wakw were created and survived. In January 2023 at Vancouver's Bill Reid Gallery, Ligwiłda'xw Kwakwaka’wakw multidisciplinary artist Sonny Assu gave a virtual artist talk about the chance rediscovery of this music, featuring his great-grandfather chief Billy Assu, and how a deepening knowledge of his heritage has influenced and featured in his practice and art work.
The Vancouver Marine Building, at 355 Burrard Street, is an art-deco building completed in 1930. As you would expect from such a building, both the exterior and the interior are highly decorated while the structure itself is graceful and simple.
St. Andrew’s United Church at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in the City of North Vancouver was built in 1912. The architects were Alexander and Brown. However, the first St. Andrew’s, which at that time was a Presbyterian Church, was located on East 6th Street facing Victoria Park and built in 1904. The “new” church built in 1912 is the one we see today, a shingle-clad adaptation in the Gothic Revival style.
From the City of North Vancouver: "The equestrian sculpture and historic water trough pays homage to those who trod before us. Horses ascending from the waterfront on the left side hauled supplies up the steep incline [of Lonsdale Ave] to developing commercial and residential sites.
Very fun Solstice Drag show at the House of Funk Brewing! Some of Vancouver's famous and talented performers entertained the crowd, as did the many flavours of stout. Hosted by local legend, Shanda Leer, and featuring performances by Belladonna Von Shade, Jerrilynn Spears & Delica Cee, it was a night to entice and enchant!
On until January 3rd, don't miss it! [Header image: Dina Goldstein, from Polygon's website: "Dina Goldstein, Punk Hands (detail), 2021."]
Deeply touching, intimate and glorious photographs by Dina Goldstein on display at the Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver, which you'll find close to the Lonsdale Quay - a short walk from the Seabus. Admission by donation and they may still have a lovely pop-up store right now for anyone who is stuck for Post-Christmas present.
At the corner of Georgia and Burrard, sits a Megaphone vendor. Since I had some cash on me, I bought the October issue.
"Where are you heading?" the vendor asked. I shared my planned destination. "The Art Gallery? If I may ask, why do you go to see Art? What do you like about Art?"
