This makes me smile. Is it not beautiful? It's a killer whale carved by Cody Mathias of the Coast Salish First Nation.
I bought it last summer from the Spirit Gallery in Horseshoe Bay. I originally bought it to give as a gift, but then selfishly decided to keep it for myself.
The killer whale is a symbol of strength and family. I can use all the strength and family I can get right now.
I would like to buy this book of maps, titled simply Maps.
Then I want to tear out the pages for some of the cities I've lived in or traveled to. And frame them and hang them on a wall somewhere.
Is it wrong to buy a book, with the only intention being to pull it apart? Not to mention I have no wall space left.
I keep telling everyone that we have no wall space left to hang anything. But then I see something I really like and I'll move everything round to make room.
Nathalie Parenteau is originally from Quebec but now makes her home in the Yukon. I noticed her work everywhere in Whitehorse when we were there this summer. This is the piece that caught my eye. I must have gone back to the North End Gallery half a dozen times to look at. Why I didn't buy it, I have no idea. Sea Otter and Volcano, 2006, Limited Edition of 750, $100.
Another Yukon artist whose work I really like is Jim Robb.
"Jim Robb has called the Yukon his home for over 30 years. He specializes in recording by camera, ink or watercolour and pastels the "Colourful Five Per Cent", a phrase he coined to describe the colourful and unusual characters and historical buildings of the north. He defines his drawings as the "exaggerated truth" where shapes, angles, colours and features of his subjects are emphasized and embellished to express their inner strengths and character. "
The piece I looked at over and over again at the Midnight Sun Gallery is At Home in the Klondike, Limited Edition, $86.00. I can't find a photo of it, and it's not on their website, but they do have it in stock. Here's a couple of other Jim Robb pieces to give you an idea of the style.
Next is a series of three prints that I would hang above our bed. Appropriate as they are titled 'A Very Tired Wombat', by Renee Treml. Aren't they adorable.
Saturday night hubby and I had the chance to attend our first event of the Cultural Olympiad. Technically I guess we saw two.
We walked down Granville Street and took in the lanterns and lights of Lunarfest: Soul, Art, Life. 2010 lanterns designed by children of Canada and Taiwan create the Lantern Forest and totem lanterns with Canadian and Taiwanese indigenous designs greet spectators from around the world.
The main event of the evening was Majumder/Cullen/Payne: Laugh it Out! at the Orpheum.
I know everyone will have a different opinion. For me the night got funnier and funnier the later it went (and it had nothing to do with alcohol). Nikki Payne was good - made me laugh, Sean Cullen was better- made me laugh out loud, and Shaun Majumder was bestest- made me laugh out loud a lot.
Ed Robertson and Tyler Stewart of Barenaked Ladies MC'd and they almost stole the show. They were hilarious. It was an awesome night out. We should do this more often.
Hubby in an art installation on Granville Street. He wants to be a ski jumper.
Here's something that's a little bit unusual for you. Olympic Rings floating in the Fraser River. Olympic Rings made of cranberries. I think it's fairly safe to say that this is a first. It would be fun to fly over and see it from the plane, but by the time the cranberry rings are installed, the airspace restrictions will mean hubby won't be allowed to fly over that area.
The cranberry installation is part of the Richmond Revealed program by the City of Richmond, showcasing Richmond industries to the world. It also includes:
image City of Richmond
Depicts the Canadian Olympic Committee's Logo - maple leaf, flame and Olympic Rings
62 metres x 70 metres or for those who measure in imperial 200 x 300 feet
13,600 kilos (30,000 punds) of cranberries - about 13 million cranberries
All cranberries will come from Richmond farms
There are approximately 60 family owned cranberry farms in Richmond
30 anchors will hold the display in place
All the berries will be composted after the Games
It's rather overwhelming. There's a lot going on - Cultural Olympiad, LiveCity Yaletown, LiveCity Downtown, Whistler Live, Richmond O Zone, Surrey Celebration Site, Place de la Francophonie, Sponsor Houses, National Houses, Four Host First Nations Pavilion, GE Plaza, Heineken House, GE Plaza, Molson Canada Hockey House etc etc etc. Not to mention the actual Olympics.
So what is the Cultural Olympiad? It's a celebration of arts and popular culture, lasting 60 days, January 22nd to March 21st. It's comedy, circus and street arts, dance, music, theatre, visual art, literary arts, film, video and digital. Some are ticketed, lots are free. And some are even interactive. So even if you're not into sports there's bound to be something up your alley.
A 2010 Cultural Olympiad Program Guide is available. You can pick one up from the Cultural Olympiad Information Centre in the lobby of the CTV Building, 750 Burrard Street. (and at Cultural Olympiad venues, public libraries, Bell stores, Tourism BC Visitor Centres, Tickets.com outlets and community centres).
Quite a few things caught my/our eye. Not that we will have time to do all or even any of them.
Feist with special guest Gonzales "Piano Talk Show"
Alberta Ballet: Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and The Drum
Majumder/Cullen/Payne: Laugh It Out! (hosted by Tyler Stewart and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies)
Hal Willner's Neil Young Project
There is a National Touring Program, so if you're not in Vancouver you can still take part. It's not as extensive obviously, but you'll find the details at Vancouver2010.com
Right now on CODE (Cultural Olympiad Online Edition) you can sign up for an Opening Ceremony digital souvenir on February 12th.
Become a fan of the Cultural Olympiad on Facebook.
What??????????????????????????????????
I can't explain it. So, straight from the press release:
"Starting at dusk on February 4, 2010, 20 robotic searchlights will create a quiet canopy of light in the night sky above and on the sparkling surface of English Bay below with designs created by people around the world and delivered via the Internet. Called Vectorial Elevation, it is the first time the internationally celebrated work of art will be displayed in Canada and over a body of water.
The 10,000-watt lights will move and create patterns silently from locations in Vanier Park and Sunset Beach that cover an area of 100,000 square metres and be visible within 15 kilometres of the city’s downtown core, stretching to Richmond, the peaks of Cypress and Grouse mountains and freighters and boats on the water."
And guess what?
You get to design the show! And you don't need to be in Vancouver.
Again, from the press release:
"Visitors to www.vectorialvancouver.net can design how the lights will move, their angles and how they are clustered in timed sequences to create their own patterns for the world to see. A personalized webpage will be automatically created for each participant to document their design. Organizers estimate 130,000 different patterns will be created in the 24 days the project operates from dusk to dawn.
A real-time video stream of the work from four cameras placed around English Bay can be accessed on the Internet. Those who opt to create patterns can also send a personal dedication to friends or a sweetheart anywhere in the world at www.vectorialvancouver.net. The project was developed in consultation with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation"
Vectorial Elevation is the work of Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer . The installation has previously been staged in Mexico, Spain, Ireland, and France.
This is a photo by Martin Vegas of the installation at the Zocalo in Mexico City, 2000.
How cool is that?
No tickets to events? You can still get that "Olympic Feeling".
Go skating in downtown Vancouver at Robson Square. Opening November 24th GE, free public skating will operate noon to 9:00 pm daily. Rentals are $3.00.
Take a sleigh ride or go skating at Grouse Mountain. Morag and I did both last year, it was a lot of fun. You can also go snow shoeing or skiing. Grouse Mountain will be open 24/7 throughout the Olympics. The NBC's Today Show will be broadcast from the top of the mountain at 4:00am. So if you're inclined to be an early bird you can go up and watch the live broadcast.
Morag Dec 2008
You can also go snowtubing, snow shoeing or skiing at Mt Seymour.
Hang out at the O Zone in Richmond. There'll be outdoor skating, exhibits, athlete appearances, ice carvers, ice art, entertainment, food and fireworks. You can try out (virtual) bobsledding and ice hockey at The BCLC Winter Games Dome. Don't forget this is home to Holland Heineken House too.
Four Host First Nations Pavilion - located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the pavilion will open in February 2010 and run throughout the Olympic Winter Games. Not yet complete, the pavilion will include a 3000 sq ft sphere surrounded by a Coast Salish Long House. It will showcase Aboriginal art, sport, business, and culture from across Canada.
The 2010 Cultural Olympiad presented by Bell will bring art, theatre, dance, and music to Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor from January 22nd to March 21st 2010. Checkout the event listings here. I won't be able to make it, but some events that caught my attention:
Feist - February 17th at the Orpheum
Blue Rodeo- February 28th in Whistler
Fear of Flight- February 9th to 13th. I don't think I'd actually want to to see this, but the aviation thing is large in our household to I had to mention it.
Cirque Eloize: Rain- March 18th to 20th. Because I like the circus.
The Only Animal: Nix- January 22nd to February 22nd. Because I never seen snow and ice theatre before.
Livecity Vancouver - Livecity Yaletown (B David Lam Park) will be open during the Olympic Winter Games. Livecity Downtown (A) will be opening during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. From the Livecity Vancouver website:
Whistler Live! - I posted about the Whistler Live! sites a few days back. You can read it here.
And finally don't forget to go shopping for all your souvenirs at the Olympic Superstore.
Do you have plans this weekend? No? Then I have a suggestion for you.
Check out the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition.
When? Saturday October 17 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday, October 18 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Where? Vancouver Convention Centre, Hall A. Near the Pan Pacific Hotel
Admission is free.
Close to 140 pieces of original art have been produced for installation at Games venues from Richmond to Whistler as part of the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art in Venues program. Over 40 of the artworks are part of the permanent legacy of the Games.
Over the next 2 days you have the opportunity to meet with over 50 of the talented artists and see a selection of the artwork that will be installed at the venues.
The Aboriginal artworks will also be featured in O Siyam: Aboriginal Art inspired by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
image VANOC
O Siyam is available in November. Copies can pre-ordered at the exhibition this weekend, buyers will receive a book plate to have signed by the artists in attendance at the exhibition. A signed copy, making a great commemorative keepsake or gift just in time for Christmas.
I don't have any photos of the artists or the artwork, because I just forgot to take any photos when we went to the preview yesterday afternoon. That wasn't smart.
