Just walking around, and suddenly there’s this.
What do you do if you are a world-famous city that has suffered horrendous terror attacks and a famous artist decides to “gift” you with a sculpture you really are not that happy with?
That was the scenario for Paris when American artist Jeff Koons offered a ten meter long work called “Bouquet of Tulips” as a ‘remembrance to the victims of the terrible tragedies”.
The Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo originally planned the art being installed opposite the Eiffel Tower. The piece called “Bouquet of Tulips” has a hand grasping flowers, kind of a reference to the Statue of Liberty which was given to the United States by the people of France. But France’s art world were not so happy with this gift, or the fact that it was going to be beside some Paris landmarks that had no reference or place in the attacks.
Read more »
The theme of ‘Heritage: The Tie that Binds’ highlights the power of cultural heritage to bring people together and create a sense of belonging.
Wednesday, Feb 20: Places That Matter: Community Celebration
Hear the stories of Places That Matter sites from the people and organizations who brought their history forward.This free celebration includes refreshments and displays related to Places That Matter sites and local history, a short program of inspirational stories featuring our Master of Ceremonies, Author, Musician and Historian Aaron Chapman, as well as live music from the Vancouver Chamber Players Wind Trio.
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St. 6pm – 8:30pm, FREE
Saturday, Feb 23: Tea at Chinatown House
Visit Chinatown House, an innovative new hub in a converted building that is providing space for co-working and cultural programming. Hear about the project from Leslie Shieh, co-founder of Tomo Spaces and learn about the intangible cultural heritage of the area from Helen Lee, a planner with the City of Vancouver’s Chinatown Transformation Team. Cantonese instructor and certified tea master, Christine Wong, will serve tea and discuss its relevance in Chinese traditions and everyday practices.
Chinatown House, 188 E Pender St. 1:30pm – 3pm, $20
Sunday, Feb 24: Oakridge Community History Walking Tour
In the post-war period, the Oakridge area was the hub of Vancouver’s Jewish community, home to many families and community organizations. Join Michael Schwartz, Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC for a tour of this neighbourhood. Visit architectural landmarks including the Jewish Community Centre, King David High School, modernist homes, and Temple Sholom synagogue, and learn how these spaces provided the foundations for a vibrant community.
Oakridge Neighbourhood. 10am – 12pm, $20
To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org or call 604 264 9642.
Read more »
On the latest episode of the This is Vancolour podcast, Vancouver City Councillor Christine Boyle and Squamish First Nation Councillor Khelsilem chat with host Mo Amir and dive deep into the issues affecting our region.
And it’s no surprise that housing and affordability remain the most important issue of the day. In this episode, both councillors offer solutions on how the City can build more housing while meeting the objective of making Vancouver more affordable.
Read more »
If you are in London you can take the tube station to Kentish Town and experience a unique bar that uses local ingredients~and is located in an old below grade bathroom, originally constructed in Victorian times.
The Ladies & Gentlemen underground bar has proven to be so popular that there are plans for six more bars, all in “upcycled underground toilets”.
Read more »
I have been writing about the new Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) sporadically as new information comes up about the project. Everyone has an opinion on the design, the location, and how this building would connect with pedestrians at the ground level.
Five years ago Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron were chosen to come up with a design for the new Vancouver Art Gallery to be located at 688 Cambie Street on land provided by the City on a 99 year lease.The original report to council in 2013 proposed a new art gallery that was double the size of the current gallery with 85,000 square feet of gallery space, with a cost of $350 million dollars in 2013. At that time the Federal and Provincial governments conditionally pledged 200 million dollars with the remaining 150 million dollars to be raised by private fundraising. That is a huge amount, and may be the largest sum raised privately in Canada.
Read more »
Thirty years ago the Public Art Program began at the City of Vancouver. It has supported local talent with 88% of civic commissions ,100% of neighbourhood grant projects and 75% of private development commissions being awarded to local artists.
One of the most talked about pieces of public art in Vancouver is Ken Lum’s large and recognizable “Van East Cross” located near 6th Avenue and Clark Drive. The Van East Cross was installed in 2010 and was part of the 2010 Winter Olympics Olympic and Paralympic Public Art Program, Mapping and Marking.
But one of the issues~and it has come up with the Van East Cross~what happens in a densifying city when a public art hallmark is going to be overshadowed?
Read more »
From our local correspondents Michael and Dianna:
Recently, in a break between rain squalls, Toronto transplant Himy Syed chalked an urban ‘labyrinth’, featuring our solar system.
With orbits looping across the pavers at the False Creek end of Manitoba Street, the elaborate chalk art includes a mysterious Kuiper Belt object thought to circle the sun, far beyond Pluto’s orbit.
Read more »
Singapore is hosting the annual i Light Marina Bay Festival which highlights sustainability in the country. This year the festival includes three 56 feet tall (that’s five storeys) sphere like globes, called “The Urchins”. The brainchild of Choi Shine Architects, these spheres have been hand crocheted and visitors are invited to interact with them.
The spheres move in the wind or by human touch, and are lit at night to cast shadows. As My Modern Met observes these works “symbolize the beauty and diversity of nature” and use an old technology of string craft to provide a series of shadows and and light.
Read more »
This fall, we launched Price Talks, our new podcast series. Price Talks are conversations with past, current, and emerging leaders in urbanist thought across Vancouver and BC’s South Coast — in academia, advocacy, business, media, politics, and urban planning and development.
You can subscribe to Price Talks via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or Stitcher – scroll down to see an episode listing and descriptions below.
We’re having fun with some fascinating guests, and we’ll close out 2018 with a dozen long-form conversations on the year’s top issues, and looking ahead to the new year.
Read more »