Gallery sights in Vancouver
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Vancouver Art Gallery
Once a disappointing regional gallery with nothing more than a clutch of Emily Carr canvases to recommend it, the VAG – housed in an old courthouse but rumored to be moving to a new downtown location soon – has dramatically transformed in recent years, becoming a vital part of the city’s cultural scene. Edgy contemporary exhibitions, often showcasing Vancouver’s wealth of internationally renowned photographers, are combined with blockbuster traveling shows. The gallery comes into its own on select Fridays for FUSE, a late-night party where you can hang out with the city’s arty types. In summer the mezzanine-level café is among downtown’s best sunny haunts.
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B
Pendulum Gallery
A creative use for the cavernous atrium of the city’s main HSBC Bank Building – you’ll be overlooking the cash machines and smiling bank tellers – this gallery offers an ever-changing roster of temporary exhibitions. It’s mostly new art, and can range from striking paintings to challenging photographs and quirky arts and crafts. The space also houses one permanent exhibit: a gargantuan 27m-long buffed aluminum pendulum that will be swinging over your head throughout your visit. Designed by Alan Storey, it weighs 1600kg and moves about 6m (the swing is assisted by a hydraulic mechanical system at the top). There’s also a coffee shop here if you need to rest your trek-weary…
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C
Contemporary Art Gallery
Originally the Greater Vancouver Artists’ Gallery, this small, off-the-beaten-path art space transformed itself into an independent gallery in 1996, moving to a crisp, purpose-built facility a few years later. Focusing on a wide range of modern art, photography is particularly well represented here. Exhibitions are ever-changing and include local and international artists – check the gallery’s website for events and openings.
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