By Caitlin Dawson
They say the best things in life are free, and it’s true. See some of Vancouver’s most esteemed art without an entrance fee or a ticket—in the great outdoors. You can spot intriguing works as you walk around the streets, beaches and public parks, without a barrier or attendant in sight.
"Walking Figures" by Magdalena Abakanowicz. Photo by KK Law
The bigger, the better—especially when it comes to public art. For two years, our city has been an outdoor art gallery for the large-scale installations of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale. The exhibition officially ended last month with a sculpture auction, so it’s your last chance to see the alfresco artworks before they’re dismantled this summer. In an homage to our mobile society, most pieces can be found along transit routes. Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz’s cast-iron crowd of “Walking Figures” (pictured) is a perfect fit for the busy Broadway-City Hall Canada Line SkyTrain station.—Kristina Urquhart
"We, 2008" by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa watches over Sunset Beach Park. Photo by Dan Fairchild Photography
To April 30
For the last two years, our fair city has hosted gargantuan outdoor sculptures, ranging from the playful to the political, as part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale. The exhibition features more than 100 large-scale installations by international artists placed along transit routes. Whether you’re an art aficionado or simply someone who enjoys the beauty and novelty of oversized sculpture, don’t miss out on your last chance to see these dynamic works before they are auctioned off at the end of the month.—Carli Vierke
To April 30
Oppenheim’s “Arriving Home” is at Vancouver International Airport, its circular shape representing the airport’s continual arrivals and departures. Photo by Dan Fairchild Photography
Vancouver is no stranger to statement-making public art—particularly the works of American conceptual artist Dennis Oppenheim, who passed away recently at 72. The artist’s giant engagement ring sculptures, part of the 2005-2007 Biennale, still sit on the shores of English Bay as a comment on same-sex marriage. Another of Oppenheim’s controversial installations, an inverted chapel perched precariously on its steeple, was relocated to Calgary after complaints in 2008. The artist’s legacy lives on in our city with the Plexiglas-and-steel “Arriving Home” (pictured), part of the current Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale.—Kristina Urquhart
Historic Burnaby Art Gallery
1 Watching Antony and Cleopatra (to Sep. 24) at Bard on the Beach.
2 Sara Canning. The actress wasn’t born here, but we still claim her as a local.
3 Shakin’ your groove thang at the city’s most popular nightclubs.
4 Burnaby Art Gallery and all the other sights in Deer Lake Park.
5 Eating at any of the local cooking schools, such as Bistro 101 at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Culinaria at The Art Institute of Vancouver, and JJ’s Restaurant at Vancouver Community College.
6 The annual Terry Fox Run (Sep. 19), raising money for cancer research.
7 Local wineries.
8 Taking the first ferry to Victoria or Nanaimo and watching the sun rise.
Perch on "Echoes" by Michael Goulet. Photo by KK Law
9 “Echoes” by Michel Goulet, an art installation on Kits Beach and part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale.
10 Dining at Earls.
11 Robert Bateman. The Canadian painter is visiting Vancouver to meet fans and sign copies of his new book, Bateman: New Works, at Chapters on South Granville (Sep. 25, 2 p.m.).
12 Reading reminiscences of a month’s eating in Paris in Cooking for Me and Sometimes You: A Parisienne Romance with Recipes (French Apple Press, $29.95) by Barbara-Jo McIntosh, owner of Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks, which stocks every tome a budding chef could ever need.
13 The Superdogs at the PNE (to Sep. 6).
14 Indulging our sweet tooth at Stuart’s Bakery.
15 Dropping by The Granville Island Brewing Tap Room for a pint of Brockton IPA—and picking up some small-batch beers to take home after.
Vancouver's gorgeous cherry blossoms paint the sky pink. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism BC
1 Cherry blossoms. Nothing says “springtime” quite like the cheerful pink blossoms.
2 Using our noodle…for a quick, cheap meal at the West End’s Kintaro Ramen, Legendary Noodle or Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
3 Rogers’ Chocolates, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Chocolate lovers choose the irresistible Victoria Creams—with fillings ranging from coffee, ginger and orange to vanilla, strawberry and always-patriotic maple.
4 Walking or biking along the seawall on a blustery day.
5 The annual Chutzpah! Festival (to Apr. 8).
6 Sipping a hot cuppa coffee while perusing the designer shops along bustling Robson Street.
7 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
8 Tasting the very best of British Columbia at Edible BC, including organic jam, wild pacific salmon and local honey.
9 Grinder and Coola, two orphaned bears who reside on Grouse Mountain. They usually come out of hibernation in April.
10 Lingering over dessert at Lupo.
11 The larger-than-life art installations located throughout the city during the Biennale.
12 South Granville Street—aka Gallery Row—for its never-ending selection of art galleries.
Eye-pleasing confections at Lupo Restaurant & Vinoteca. Photo by KK Law
13 Dim sum, or any quick-to-eat Chinese food, such as take-out barbecue pork, from Chinatown.
14 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
15 The Richmond Olympic Oval, which reopens to the public this month. It was the official speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Games.
Yue Minjun's collection of statues at English Bay. Photo by KK Law
When you’re out and about in the city, you’re bound to see the numerous public art installations that make up the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, on now until 2011. Stop by English Bay’s Morton Park to see “A-maze-ing Laughter” (pictured) by Chinese artist Yue Minjun. The larger-than-life, cast-bronze statues depict Minjun’s own face in a state of hysterical laughter, encouraging the viewer to share in his joy. And let’s face it—every now and then, we all need a good chuckle.—Kristina Urquhart
Michael Zheng's The Stop. Photo by KK Law
1 The Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale (pictured at right), on until next year.
2 Rediscovering the sweets of yesteryear at The Candy Aisle. PEZ, Big League Chew, Sweetarts, Nerds, Runts, Laffy Taffy—yum.
3 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
4 Watching the annual Polar Bear Swim (Jan. 1) with something—and someone—hot.
5 Lights of Hope (to Mar. 21), raising money for St. Paul’s Hospital.
St. Paul's Hospital is all lit up until March 21. Photo by KK Law
6 Cheap eats at Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
7 The Shoppers Drugmart on Davie Street, which is open 24 hours a day.
8 Exploring the centre of the city.
9 Stephen Colbert. He’ll be here next month—whether as the official sponsor of the US speed skating team or as the City of Richmond’s Olympic Oval Ombudsman or even as an Olympic athlete, we don’t know. We do know the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will make us laugh.
10 Catching a sunlit glimpse of the snow-covered North Shore mountains from downtown, and planning an escape to Grouse.
11 Nala, the seven-month-old (but only recently named) baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. The name is short for an Inuktitut word meaning “surprise gift.”
12 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Counting down to the 2010 Winter Games.
15 The World Needs More Canada collection at Chapters and Indigo stores, which includes books by Canadians such as Margaret Atwood and Rex Murphy and accessories such as a red umbrella sporting a patriotic message you can’t ignore.
Do you have great photos from your travels in Canada that you'd like to share with us? Submit them to the Where Canada Flickr pool and they'll show up here.
Stay, Dine, Do
