This summer I headed west, and as always, I visited as many art galleries as possible. Here then, is a list of spots visited, along with a link and brief description.
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ABOVE: Bill Reid, The Raven and the First Men, 1980, wood sculpture. As seen at the Museum of Anthropology UBC.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Housed in a beautiful old mansion, and a quick drive from downtown Victoria, this gallery houses some big names in Canadian art.
Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature
Located by the harbor in Victoria, this small gallery showcases the work of Robert Bateman as well as his contemporaries. It’s a must see, especially if you’re a fan of his work.
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
Bill Reid is a huge presence in Vancouver with marquee pieces in the airport and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Unsurprisingly, he has his very own gallery. Unsurprisingly, it’s a must see.
A small downtown space with just enough room for a few pieces. I especially liked a video by Maryam Jafri. It’s no longer on display though.
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Another small space, this time located at the University of British Columbia (a 20 minute bus ride from Vancouver), the work on display is very contemporary and non-traditional – at least it was when I was there.
Although technically not an art gallery, this made the list as it was by far, the most spectacular museum/gallery in the Vancouver/Victoria area. It’s holdings of First Nations art, and the way it’s displayed is incredible. It doesn’t matter where in the world you’re coming from, this is a bucket list museum.
The top public gallery in Vancouver, the Giacometti exhibition (which ended 9/22) was a well-curated look at the artists work. Although it’s over, it gives you an idea of the type of show this gallery is capable of.
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