Public Art

Arts patronage has a long history with real estate developers, and many large developments are mandated by the city to pay for public art installations. But a small developer without any city-ordained mandate is taking the idea of arts patronage in a new and different direction.

Vancouver is a city in a state of flux, and we are reminded of this every day with the orgy of tower cranes and new condos that populate its skyline. To some this is exciting, but to others this explosive growth is frightening. The MadeIn Company has taken this into account, and Calm, its public art installation at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space on West Georgia & Thurlow (next to the Shangri-La), reminds us that there is beauty amongst all this flux, and that much of this beauty is rather subtle.

If you’ve walked passed the Sheraton Wall Centre on Burrard and Nelson, you might have noticed the red water fountain. Many have wondered what is going on. It’s not a prank. It’s for Reverse Joy, an exhibit by artist Slavs and Tatars at North Vancouver’s Presentation House Gallery.

Update: April Fools!

Remember when we first told you about the ridiculous $100,000 Main Street poodle public art piece. That art was a joint venture between the City of Vancouver and Translink. Well, it looks like the City of Vancouver and Translink are at it again as Yaletown will soon be getting its very own giant dog public art piece, the Yaletown Chihuahua.

In a city where they are holding a casting call for “The Real Hipsters of Vancouver,” it’s only fitting that it has a designated park/public space named “Dude Chilling Park.” The Vancouver park board is on the hunt for a permanent spot for a sign that first appeared in November at the existing Guelph Park in Mount Pleasant (East 7th and Guelph Street).

We first told you about the giant Main Street poodle (do yourself a favour and read the comments in our previous article) perched high atop a black pole on Main and 17th. Since our posting it’s caused quite the stir and other media outlets have picked up on this controversial canine public art, mainly due to the cost of this project, $100,000. 

The W2 Media Cafe hosted Vancouver’s inaugural Slideluck Potshow Saturday evening, sponsored by Nester’s Market, W2, Westbank Development, London Drugs and JJ Bean.

The Vancouver Art Gallery relocation will happen sooner or later. With the sale of the Canada Post building in downtown Vancouver, talks are once again ramping up for possible future locations for the Vancouver Art Gallery. Here is another unique proposal that calls for building the new Vancouver Art Gallery over the Granville Loops, which are soon to be removed.

The Main Street Poodle is the latest public art installation in the city of Vancouver. Located across the new 3333 Main Street (Main and 17th) development in East Vancouver, the poodle has few scratching their heads in disbelief, while others praising the work.