“A Tale of Two Children: A Work for Strathcona”, by Ken Lum. Vancouver-Strathcona, 1 Jun 2021 (6D1).
19 Oct 2021 1201 GMT+0000
Above/featured: Left: “Search”, by J. Seward Johnson Jr. (1975). Right: “Solo”, by Natalie McHaffie (1986). Devonian Harbour Park, 14 Jul 2021 (X70).
Based on what we see in person and online, the quickest version of street art may be defined by the variety of art appearing on side walls of buildings, big and small. Most will think about paint, graffiti, and murals, all of them in the here and now. But we shouldn’t forget any art that’s out on the streets and publicly accessible.
Below are a handful of examples of public art in the city of Vancouver; the following is a visual expression of my fondness for sculpture whose origins sweep back to the 1st-half of the 20th-century.
Renowned artist Ken Lum completed a permanent work commissioned by the City of Vancouver in 2005 for the public works yard. The work “A Tale of Two Children: A Work for Strathcona” is not only a nod to his formative years growing up in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood, but also provides different views regarding children and their changing and precipitous views regarding self-worth within a society that views them with prejudice. Several of Ken Lum’s works appear throughout metropolitan Vancouver.
“A Tale of Two Children: A Work for Strathcona”, by Ken Lum. Vancouver-Strathcona, 1 Jun 2021 (6D1).
Facing north in the outside passage of the Marine Gateway commercial complex, “Salish Gifts” appear at left and “Golden Tree” is in the background. “Salish Gifts” consists of four concrete baskets each with its own bronze lid, installed at Marine Gateway in 2015. The sculpture was created by Musqueam artist Susan Point, telling stories of her Musqueam people and importance of the nearby Fraser River to the Musqueam with key symbols (e.g., birds, fish, grass). Many of Point’s works appear throughout southwest British Columbia and Puget Sound, including “Salmon” (below).
The sculpture with gold finish “Golden Tree” by Douglas Coupland is a copy of the 800-year old “Hollow Tree” in the city’s Stanley Park and installed in 2016 at the Intracorp MC2 development. Coupland hopes the sculpture is a bridge between the history of the original tree with the present-day. Other works by Coupland also appear in the city of Vancouver.
Cambie & SW Marine: “Salish Gifts” (left), “Golden Tree” (centre-background). Vancouver-Marpole, 16 May 2021 (X70).
Designed by Charles Marega, two concrete lion statues “guard” the southern gate or portal of the Lions Gate Bridge on the Stanley Park side. The statues were installed in 1939 after the bridge’s opening in late-1938. The Lions also refer to twin peaks on the North Shore Mountains; however, the prevailing indigenous name for the mountains is “Two Sisters”.
Two lions at the entrance. Stanley Park, 25 Jun 2021 (X70).
On the Point Grey campus of the University of British Columbia stands the Reconciliation Pole, carved by Haida hereditary chief and master carver 7idansuu (Edenshaw), known also by the name James Hart. The 17-metre (55-foot) pole was raised on 1 April 2017. Above the “residential school” are several standing figures holding each other’s hands. Their feet aren’t shown, representing the lack of grounding and abundance of abuse. A blight on the nation’s history, the Canadian government stole an estimated 150-thousand indigenous children from their families, forcing them into residential school-institutions across the country. Countless people, family generations, and intact regional cultures were destroyed, amounting to a systematic state-sanctioned program of cultural genocide. The Reconciliation Pole is a small step in a national process of remembrance, healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation among non-indigenous people, First Peoples, and the federal government.
Reconciliation Pole, by James Hart. Main Mall, Univ. of British Columbia, 5 Dec 2020 (X70).
In Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, street maintenance hole covers with “Salmon” designs in bronze were designed by Musqueam artist Susan Point. These beautiful eye-catching covers were installed by the City of Vancouver in 1995. The modern waterfront in Coal Harbour laced with high-density residential towers was once someone’s fishing grounds a mere 150 years ago.
“Salmon”, by Susan Point. Vancouver – Coal Harbour, 28 Jul 2021 (X70).
A neon installation is up on the back wall of a building in the middle of Chinatown. Installed in 2020, Chinese-Canadian artist Paul Wong created “Saltwater City – Vancouver / 咸水埠温哥华” to honour the legacy of Chinese-Canadians in the history of Chinatown, in the history of the City of Vancouver, and to the development of the province of British Columbia. The first three Chinese characters (咸水埠) translates directly to “Saltwater City”, the nickname applied to Vancouver by the first Chinese arrivals. The last three Chinese characters (温哥华) is a transliteration of the word “Vancouver”. Echoes of this Chinese phrase are familiar; memories apply to frequent usage by my parents at home and by my parents’ generation out in the streets of Chinatown.
“Saltwater City – Vancouver / 咸水埠温哥华”, by Paul Wong. Vancouver-Chinatown, 25 Jun 2021 (X70).
At the southern foot of Burrard Bridge, a large figure opens their arms wide. The statue was carved by Darren Yelton, and unveiled by the Squamish Nation in 2006. The figure stands near the location of a former indigenous village called sən̓aʔqʷ in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language of the Musqueam Nation or Sen̓áḵw in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language of the Squamish Nation.
Welcome Figure, by Darren Yelton, for the Squamish Nation. Vancouver-Kitsilano, 20 Jul 2021 (X70).
I made all photos above with a Canon EOS6D mark1 (6D1) and a Fujifilm X70 fixed-lens prime (X70) in metro Vancouver BC. Acknowledgements go to Patti for LAPC no.170 in the week of 16—22 Oct 2021. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-lG7.
Posted by HL fotoeins
Categories: Arts, Canada, Culture, North America, Photography, Urban Photography
Tags: fotoeins, LAPC, Lens Artists Photo Challenge, lens-artists
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A lovely tour of the city Henry. Interestingly I do not remember any of these from our visit to Vancouver. Perhaps another visit is in order!
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By Tina Schell on 19 Oct 2021 at 1218 GMT+0000
Hi and thanks, Tina. Some of the locations are a little out of the way from where visitors/tourists go. There’s a lot of street art to find and see throughout the city and metro area. So yes, you’ll have to come back soon. Thanks again!
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By fotoeins on 22 Oct 2021 at 0106 GMT+0000
Hi, Henry. I saw those wonderful manhole covers in Coal Harbor! I’m so glad to learn more about them. I enjoyed your collection.
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By pattimoed on 19 Oct 2021 at 2127 GMT+0000
Hi and thanks, Patti. It’s not always obvious to look down at the street maintenance covers, but knowing where to look is very rewarding 😅 Susan Point’s “Salmon” covers (1995) are only found in the Coal Harbour area, whereas her “Memory” street maintenance covers (2005, in collaboration with her daughter, Kelly Cannell) are found throughout the city of Vancouver.
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By fotoeins on 22 Oct 2021 at 0112 GMT+0000
Hi, Henry. I’ll have to look for the “Memory” covers. Thanks for the info!
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By pattimoed on 23 Oct 2021 at 1716 GMT+0000
Hey, Patti. When you’re here in the city again, be careful when you cross any intersection or when you’re walking down the street. But keep an eye out for the “Art Underfoot” manhole covers; here’s what they look like:
* https://ounodesign.com/2011/02/05/coast-salish-storm-sewer-cover-by-susan-point/
* https://covapp.vancouver.ca/PublicArtRegistry/ArtworkDetail.aspx?FromArtworkSearch=True&ArtworkId=422
* https://covapp.vancouver.ca/PublicArtRegistry/ArtworkDetail.aspx?FromArtworkSearch=True&ArtworkId=419
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By fotoeins on 24 Oct 2021 at 0707 GMT+0000
Thanks so much, Henry! I’ll look for them. I love the links!
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By pattimoed on 25 Oct 2021 at 1830 GMT+0000
Living in Vancouver I have seen most of these public works of art. However, knowing the stories behind the art make them way more interesting. Thank you!
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By Albatz Travel Adventures on 20 Oct 2021 at 1858 GMT+0000
Hi, Elizabeth; thank you for your comment! It’s very true: live or spend enough time in a place, and there’s much more to see with open eyes. The city continues to surprise with its variety of publicly accessible art out on the streets. I hope your upcoming exhibition at the annual EastVan Culture Crawl is successful. I live in Strathcona, and I hope to see more of the Crawl this year.
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By fotoeins on 22 Oct 2021 at 0115 GMT+0000
I love it when I see the Vancouver Art posted all over in this week’s challenge. Just proud of our outdoor gallery.
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By Perpetua on 23 Oct 2021 at 2322 GMT+0000
From an art perspective, Vancouver isn’t half-bad for a small town 😉 Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!
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By fotoeins on 24 Oct 2021 at 0710 GMT+0000
I’m not sure if this is a compliment or criticism. Thanks for posting the street art.
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By Perpetua on 24 Oct 2021 at 0813 GMT+0000
[…] prime camera has been a real boon to my approach to photography for personal projects both domestically and internationally. To satisfy my curiosity, I’ve provided examples of X70 images made with […]
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By My Fuji X70: Kodacolor film-simulation | Fotoeins Fotografie on 16 Nov 2021 at 0001 GMT+0000
What a wonderful collection of beautiful public art pieces! Scouting out public art scattered around the city is a great way to take in Vancouver culture. Thanks for sharing and have a good day ☺️ Aiva
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By ourcrossings on 22 Feb 2022 at 2135 GMT+0000
Hi, Alva. Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by!
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