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SATURDAY EVENING POST
July 13th, 2024
Public artwork in Greater Vancouver serves as a vital link between the past, present, and future, retelling the city’s rich cultural heritage and its dynamic evolution. These works are profound symbols that reflect the water, the land, the sky, the First Nations people, and the contemporary residents who now call this place home.
Charlotte Wall and Marie Khouri, Eyes on the Street, 2017, Mirrored stainless steel. 1661 Quebec Street, Vancouver. Photos courtesy of Charlotte Wall
They serve as calls to action for our community to reflect on and to reconnect with the natural environment that once dominated the landscape, encouraging us to be present, to search, to examine, and to bear witness to the ongoing transformation of our city. “Eyes on the Street” by Charlotte Wall and Marie Khouri encourages perhaps casually passing audience to reflect on their role within the urban environment and fosters a heightened awareness of their surroundings. The highly reflective surface of the two structures and their closeness that creates reflections of each other in themselves, serves as a contemporary reflection on our own presence in the city, highlighting the importance of community interconnectedness and the collective responsibility to care for our shared spaces.
Janet Echelman, Water Sky Garden, 2009, Painted galvanised steel rings with TENARA® architectural fiber netting. In the Legacy Plaza garden on the east side of Richmond Olympic Oval. Photos courtesy of Janet Echelman.
Many public artworks in Vancouver are deeply rooted in the natural environment, drawing inspiration from the land and sky. These installations remind us of the natural beauty that once surrounded the city and continue to shape its identity. Some of these works are profound exploration of time, nature, and human impact, whether they mimic and reflect the natural environment, extend it, or humorously comment on urbanization, often become symbols of both the permanence and fragility of natural elements, and how the land and the residence within it are significantly impacted. These works often prompt the viewers to consider the geological history of the land and the transformative effects of human activity.
Neil Campbell, Zephyr / Pink Apocalypse, 2023. LED light panel. 1661 Davie Street, Vancouver. The installation, commissioned by Westbank and Crombie REIT, features a random sequence of the artist’s previous piece, Zephyr, or Pink Apocalypse each day, creating an ever-changing experience for viewers. Photos by Jonathan Evans, Courtesy of Westbank.
Henrik Håkansson, A Rock Divided, 2022, Granite boulder and glass panels. 1568 Alberni Street, Vancouver, Alberni by Kengo Kuma. Photos by Toby Cowley, Ema Peters, and Carvel Creative.
Ren Jun, Water #10. 2009, Stainless steel. The corner of Cambie Road and River road, along the Middle Arm dyke greenway, Richmond. Photo courtesy of Vancouver Biennale.
Nuburi Toko and Shusei Toko, Kamui Mintara (Playground of the Gods), 1989. A gift to Burnaby from its Japanese twin city of Kushiro. Burnaby Mountain Park, northwest of SFU campus. Photos by Matt Boulton.
Myfanwy MacLeod, The Birds, 2010, Stainless steel, hardcoated EPS foam, bronze. Olympic Village Square, Vancouver. Photos courtesy of Myfanwy MacLeod.
Some public artworks pay homage to the rich cultural heritage of the First Nations people who have lived on this land for millennia. These artworks serve as visual narratives that honour the traditions, stories, and spiritual connections of indigenous communities to the land and water. These works work often embody the themes of resilience and continuity, celebrating the enduring presence of indigenous culture in a rapidly evolving city. They are crucial in fostering respect and understanding among contemporary residents for the cultural foundations of the land we live on.
James Harry, MIYIWTS - Waters Edge, 2004, 316 Stainless Steel, 24k gold leaf. Təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre, New Westminster. Photos by Blaine Campbell, courtesy of James Harry.
Bill Reid, The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe, 1994, Bronze cast, 2.2, jade green patina. International terminal at YVR Airport. Photos by Chris Rycroft.
We end today on a work that is not currently on view. “Welcome Figure” by Darren Yelton (Ḵanáḵeltn), erected by the Squamish Nation, and stood at foot of the South end of the Burrard Street Bridge as a powerful symbol of hospitality and inclusivity, deeply rooted in the traditions of the indigenous peoples of Vancouver. The Grandfather figure with open extended arms faces the inlet, welcomes all that arrives on his family’s land, the land was once the site of a traditional Squamish village called Sun'ahk. For years, he remains tucked away for only pedestrians and cyclists on the seawall to see as they pass under the bridge. His backdrop, a lush layer of overgrown foliage and the end of the Burrard Street Bridge.
In the last year, with the development of Sen̓áḵw, and the planned relocation of “Welcome Figure”, unearthed the remains of former railway trestle bridge as part of the site preparation. The tracks were used by streetcar that terminated at Kits Beach pool parking lot around the 1900s, and an interurban transportation that went from Downtown Vancouver to Steveston until the 1950s. The lower part of the Burrard Street Bridge was designed to replace this trestle, but was never completed due to cost issues at the time.
Darren Yelton (Ḵanáḵeltn), Welcome Figure, 2006. Photos by SITE Photography and Allie Turner.
Aerial view of Downtown Vancouver and False Creek, between Burrard Street and Granville Street Bridge, with train bridge and Granville Island, first photo from the 1930s, and again in the 1970s (1970s photo by Gordon Sayle). City of Vancouver Archives.
These public artworks function as markers of time, capturing the transient nature of rapid urban development and the enduring presence of natural and cultural elements. These artworks preserve the ideas and visions of artists and communities, serving as historical records that document the city’s evolution. They highlight the significant moments and changes that have shaped Vancouver, offering a tangible connection to history. As the city continues to grow and change, these artworks remain constant, providing a sense of stability and continuity amidst the flux.
Thank you for reading. There are so many more notable and important public works in our city, new and historical, so please stay tuned for the next segment of our Saturday Evening Post edition on Public Art.
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