Public Art Display in Vancouver BC

Free Cultural Entertainment During Visit to the 2010 Olympics

Sep 30, 2009 Joseph Leung

While Vancouver BC can be an expensive city to visit particularly during the 2010 Olympics, the very walkable city offers cultural stimulation free of charge.

It is without questions that Vancouver does not stand on the same stage with New York, London, or Paris when it comes to collections of world renowned art work and selections of cultural entertainment. However, the display of commissioned public art (by both emerging and established artists) throughout the city showcases visitors and residents alike the talents of contemporary west coast Canadian and international artists.

Vancouver's Public Art Registry

The City of Vancouver maintains a Public Art Registry on its website. The website provides maps of over 250 public art displays in different neighbourhoods of the city. The site also allow users to sort the displays by names of the artists or neighbourhoods along with corresponding pictures of the art pieces.

A pocket-size brochure titled "City of Vancouver, Public Art Walk, Downtown Shoreline" and published by the Registry can also be picked up at the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library at 350 West Georgia Street. The brochure is an excellent tool for self-guided walking tours in the following 4 distinct downtown neighbourhoods along with a brief write-up of each public art piece:

Coal Harbour
Stanley Park / West End / English Bay
False Creek - North Shore
Chinatown / Downtown Eastside / Gastown

A few notable public art display pieces are listed below.

Public Art in Coal Harbour

Meeting - The collection of 8 red painted bronze figures in sitting position by Wang Shugang of China outside the Westin Bayshore Hotel is one of the Vancouver Biennale installations. The installation debuted at the G-8 Summit meeting in Germany in 2007.

Light Shed - Liz Magor's half size aluminum replica of the original simple wooden freight shed on the Vancouver City Wharf in Coal Harbour sits atop 4 poles overlooking Coal Harbour along the Seawall in front of Harbour Green Park. At night, dim light emits from the lone structure.

Public Art in Stanley Park / West End / English Bay

Inukshuk - This grey granite symbol of northern hospitality and friendship by Alvin Kanak sits at the western end of English Bay at the foot of Bidwell Street. Inukshuks are used as landmarks and navigational aids by the Inuit people in northern Canada.

Public Art in False Creek – North Shore

Brush with Illumination – The steel kinetic brush pivots on a steel column and is balanced with 2 large bouys. This Buster Simpson's creation tilts and rotates with the water currents and tides of False Creek. It also transmits wind and tide information to a web server. The brush is best seen at night when the cursor at the end of the brush is lit by laser.

Public Art in Chinatown / Downtown Eastside / Gastown

The Drop - This elongated blue water drop outside the Vancouver Convention Centre in Burrard Inlet is a project of the Inges Idee group consisting of 4 German artists. The Drop symbolizes the interrelationship between Vancouver and the element of water in its many forms.

Cultural Olympiad 2010

Vancouver is an excellent venue to salute contemporary art while cheering for sports competitions during the 2010 Olympics with the launching of Cultural Olympiad 2010. Rain or shine, a walk along the Seawall or a neighbourhood stroll offers excellent visual, cultural and culinary flavours of this diverse city and open air museum on Canada's west coast.

The copyright of the article Public Art Display in Vancouver BC in W Canada Travel is owned by Joseph Leung. Permission to republish Public Art Display in Vancouver BC in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Vancouver Public Art - Coal Harbour - Meeting	Vancouver Public Art - Coal Harbour - Light Shed	Vancouver Public Art - English Bay - Inukshuk
Vancouver Public Art - False Creek - Brush	Vancouver Public Art - Gastown - The Drop