Curator & Collector

Rotunda of the Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, BC

During the recent 2010 “Winter”* Olympics, the Vancouver Art Gallery was open for free to the public; my wife and I saved ourselves about $37 by visiting the VAG, which also housed the BC Pavilion, at this time. The VAG has a no photographs policy, but makes an exemption for the beautiful rotunda under the dome. I’ve always liked the rotunda, with its bright light, high ceiling, and intimate horizontal dimensions. The building, which was originally a courthouse, was built by architect Francis Rattenbury. Rattenbury designed the best of the prominent, old buildings of BC, including The Empress Hotel and provincial Parliament buildings in Victoria, BC.

Thumbnail images of the Vancouver Art Gallery

I couldn’t help noticing that the VAG appears not to have any references to Rattenbury on their website. Of course, the VAG also has no press release on its site detailing its attempts to move to much larger facilities elsewhere. Perhaps because I have some naively Philistine blood in me, I think the VAG should stay put in its present, beautiful, iconic location. The building may be a little small, but some of the temporary and very modern art installations might be considered a waste of space, and more than once I have felt that some of the non-aboriginal modern art is embarrassed by the beauty of the rotunda. I’m all for expanding the Gallery, but not if it means removing everything from its heritage building.

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*The cherry blossoms had already been blooming, the sun was warm, and there wasn’t enough snow on the mountains. Some were calling it the “Spring Olympics.” Climate change deniers should take note!

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UPDATE: I’m pleased to see that I am not alone in my desire for the VAG to stay put; Miro Cernetig of the Vancouver Sun eloquently argues for the same.