Long a nurturer of what is known as “cultural studies” (as in social politics) in British Columbia, what was once the UBC Fine Arts Gallery is now the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. It’s ensconced in a suitably minimalist building on campus, flooded with natural light (1825 Main Mall, UBC, 604-822-2759, www.belkin-gallery.ubc.ca). Long under the direction of Scott Watson, the gallery shows — as it should — contemporary and often controversial work. Over the years, it has acquired the third-largest art collection in the province. It’s especially renowned for representing the avant-garde artists of the envelope-pushing ‘6os and ‘705.
This gallery also runs the Belkin Satellite (555 Hamilton Street, Downtown, 604-687-3174), where emerging artists show their work in a deep street-level space next to the tiny, politicized Delmar Hotel (see “Lodging”).
The privately run Contemporary Art Gallery recently moved into an award-winning concrete-and-wood building (555 Nelson Street, Downtown, 604-681-2700), the better to exhibit cutting-edge artists and traveling shows from BC and beyond. It also mounts sidewalk vitrine exhibits in the windows on Nelson Street.
For somewhat more mainstream Canadian contemporary art, visit the long-established Bau-Xi (3045 Granville Street, Central Vancouver, 604-733-7011) or the Equinox (2321 Granville Street, Central Vancou¬ver, 604-736-2405). Indeed, the entire ten blocks of Granville Street between West i6th and West 6th avenues (including the 1500 block of West 6th) is well endowed with private galleries of every ilk.
For the record, this stretch of Granville was recently redubbed South Granville Rise to better distinguish what has become a successful upscale shopping and gallery district from downtown’s Granville Slopes, Downtown South, and truly South Granville (street) at the southernmost end of this major thoroughfare.
Centre A is also known as the Vancouver Centre for Contempor¬ary Asian Art (849 Homer Street, Downtown, 604-683-8326) and will cleanse from the cobwebbed corners of the mind any lingering preconceptions about Asian art and artists. Test this thesis by going on to the Vancouver Chinese Art Gallery (27 East Pender Street, Chinatown, 604-688-6848) where “contemporary” and “traditional” remain pretty much the same thing.
If you’re heading to Granville Island along Second Avenue from the west, you’ll pass a sheet of falling water that fronts a cluster of art galleries in the Waterfall Building (1540 West 2nd Avenue, Central Vancouver). This complex includes the centerpiece Ballard-Lederer Gallery, the Artisan Gallery, the Waterfall Gallery, and several small design studios. The building was designed by architect Nick Milkovich with input and, importantly, name recognition from senior city architect Arthur Erickson (see “Arthur Erickson”); the design took a 2002 Architectural Institute of BC medal. Frankly, I’ve never understood why Erickson in particular, and other designers and sculptors, are so enamored of falling water in a city where it rains nine months of the year but what do I know (except that I get wet)?
The Wall Gallery (1977 Pine Street, Central Vancouver, 604-738-9255) remains not much more than a long, well, wall, but it’s delight¬fully located on an otherwise bland side street. Also in this part of town, though recently relocated to smaller premises in keeping with the trend to Internet sales, is the Diane Farris Gallery (1590 West 7th Avenue, Central Vancouver, 604-737-2629, www.dianefarris gallery.com). It’s still going strong as a representative of the avant-garde.
Ifyou’re taking in a show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Hamilton Street, at Georgia Street, Downtown), check out the art exhibits on the mezzanine level. It’s here that Civic Theatres shows the works of lesser-known or emerging artists, often on themes related to perform-ances.
For something completely different, check out the Gallery Gachet (88 East Cordova Street, Gastown, 604-687-2468, www.gachet.org). The Gachet mounts strong shows on alternative and political themes in a funky space.
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