Jan. 22 - Last - rainy - day in Vancouver

After a delicious breakfast at the Yolk restaurant, we joined a 5 hour bus tour through downtown Vancouver and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. 

It was pouring rain, so most of the pictures look pretty wet, from inside the bus. 
This is the Vancouver Public Library. According to tour guide, the decision to build this grandiose building came from a 1990 referendum. The population was asked to choose among a Auto building, a casino or a library. The library project won... by far!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Public_Library

Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is the public library system for the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2013, VPL had more than 6.9 million visits with patrons borrowing nearly 9.5 million items including: books, ebooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, newspapers and magazines. Across 22 locations and online, VPL serves nearly 428,000 active members and is the third-largest public library system in Canada.

From there, we drove through the second largest Chinatown outside of China. Vancouver's Chinatown is just smaller than the San Francisco one.

The Sam Kee Building, located at 8 West Pender Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is the "narrowest commercial building in the world" according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Here is the famous Gastown Steam Clock, in Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_clock

A steam clock is a clock which is fully or partially powered by a steam engine. Only a few functioning steam clocks exist, most designed and built by Canadian horologist Raymond Saunders for display in urban public spaces. Steam clocks built by Saunders are located in Otaru, Japan; Indianapolis, United States; and the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Whistler and Port Coquitlam, all in British Columbia. Steam clocks by other makers are installed in St Helier, Jersey and at the Chelsea Farmers' Market in London, England.

Although they are often styled to appear as 19th-century antiques, steam clocks are a more recent phenomenon inspired by the Gastown steam clock built by Saunders in 1977. One exception is the steam clock built in the 19th century by Birmingham engineer John Inshaw to demonstrate the versatility of steam power.

Next stop was to appreciate the Toten Poles at the Stanley Park.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Park

Stanley Park is a 405-hectare (1,001-acre) public park in British Columbia, Canada, that makes up the northwestern half of Vancouver's Downtown peninsula, surrounded by waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay. The park borders the neighbourhoods of West End and Coal Harbour to its southeast, and is connected to the North Shore via the Lions Gate Bridge. The historic lighthouse on Brockton Point marks the park's easternmost point. While it is not the largest urban park, Stanley Park is about one-fifth larger than New York City's 340-hectare (840-acre) Central Park and almost half the size of London's 960-hectare (2,360-acre) Richmond Park.

About Stanley Park’s Indigenous Art: 

https://vancouversbestplaces.com/top-attractions/stanley-park/vancouver-stanley-park-totem-poles/ 

There are a total of nine totem poles at Stanley Park. You’ll notice that some of the poles have bright colours, and one or two don’t. The display of totems has been at Brockton Point since the 1960s, and the newest pole was added in 2009.

Interestingly, the majority of the totem poles are not actually from the Vancouver area. They are all from British Columbia though. Except for the newer local art pieces, most are also replicas of the originals.

Four of the totems are from Alert Bay on Vancouver Island. Others are from Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) and River’s Inlet (on BC’s west coast close to halfway up the province).

The newest pole is the only one made by a Vancouver-area artist. It’s by Robert Yelton of the Squamish Nation and set up in Stanley Park in 2009. Yelton’s is the tall pole near the entrance that stands on its own. It’s not as colourful as some of the others. That’s not because it’s old, but because it’s more the style of local Indigenous art instead of art from regions like Haida Gwaii.

The totem pole area at Stanley Park also has three wooden gates carved from red cedar by Vancouver artist Susan Point of the Musqueam Nation and her collaborators. Installed in 2008, these art pieces reflect the style of traditional Coast Salish architecture and design elements.

This is the trunk of what is suppose to be the oldest tree in Stanley Park - a Cedar tree about 500 years old.

Here our main attraction of the day: the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_Suspension_Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 metres (460 ft)^[1] long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river. It is part of a private facility with an admission fee and draws over 1.2 million visitors per year.

Amazing view from the middle of the bridge.

Instead of Beaver Tails, they have Otter Balls (?!) here.  

Otter Balls: approved

Treetops adventure.

If you just visiting the park, 2 hours should be enough. 

I recommend to do the trails when is NOT raining.

The trees here are massive!

Tree huggers.

Enjoying squirrel's view, on the treetop platforms.

It was so wet and it was nice to enjoy all the waterfalls.

This part of the park has lights to make it even magical.

The crew up there!

We were totally soaked wet, but we still had fun. 
That's the end of our British Columbia adventure. 

Jan. 21 - From the mountains to the sea

It was time to say goodbye to Mike - who stayed behind for work in Whistler - and head south with the "children" to Vancouver. 
The driving was super wet, and overclouded, but we still could appreciate the stunning beauty of the massive rocks! 

We stopped in Squamish for breakfast as the rain give us a break.

The first visit of the day was suppose to beat the Grouse Mountain, in North Vancouver, but we decided to cancel it because of the poor visibility. The idea was to get the gondola up and appreciate an aerial view of Vancouver, the ocean and the mountains around it, but it wasn't possible today. 

Still, we took a family picture to prove we were here!

The gondola takes visitors and skiers up the mountain. There were lots of little kids going up the hill, which made me wondered if this is the learning place for the little ones - only a 25 minute drive from downtown Vancouver - before they adventure in the taller mountains, in Whistler and area.

Vancouver down there in a moment of clarity.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grouse_Mountain

Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. With a maximum elevation of over 1,200m (4,100ft) at its peak, the mountain is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which overlooks Metro Vancouver and has four chairlifts servicing 33 runs. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, the "Birds in Motion" birds of prey demonstration, a chairlift ride, disc golf, mountain biking, zip lining, tandem paragliding, helicopter tours, and guided ecowalks. Year-round operations include a 100-seat mountaintop theatre and a wildlife refuge. The mountain operates two aerial tramways, known officially as the Skyride. The Blue Skyride is used mainly for freight transportation, while public access to the mountain top is provided by the Swiss-built Garaventa Red Skyride, which has a maximum capacity of 101 passengers (98 + 1 operator in summer). Summer access is also provided by the 2.9 kilometre Grouse Grind hiking trail, which is open for hiking from May to October. Similar to the nearby Capilano Suspension bridge, Grouse Mountain can be accessed via a free, regular shuttle bus that runs from 'Canada Place' in downtown Vancouver.

The Lions Gate Bridge.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_Gate_Bridge

The Lions Gate Bridge, opened in 1938 and officially known as the First Narrows Bridge, is a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of Burrard Inlet and connects the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, to the North Shore municipalities of the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and West Vancouver. The term "Lions Gate" refers to the Lions, a pair of mountain peaks north of Vancouver. Northbound traffic on the bridge heads in their general direction. A pair of cast concrete lions, designed by sculptor Charles Marega, were placed on either side of the south approach to the bridge in January 1939.^[2]

The total length of the bridge including the north viaduct is 1,823 metres (5,981 ft). 

We are staying at the Burrard Hotel, which is a nice, affordable hotel -  in a great location. 

Despite of the rain we went for a neighbourhood exploration right away.

The sea, the city and the mountains. 

We walked to the Canada Place, by the water. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Place

Canada Place is a building situated on the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is home to the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel, the Vancouver World Trade Centre, and the virtual flight ride FlyOver Canada. The building's exterior is covered by fabric roofs resembling sails. It is also the main cruise ship passenger terminal for the region, where cruises to Alaska originate. The building was designed by architects Zeidler Roberts Partnership in joint venture with Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership and DA Architects + Planners.

Canada Place is accessed via West Cordova Street and near Waterfront Station, a major transit hub with SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express connections.

The structure was expanded in 2001 to accommodate another cruise ship berth. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada Place served as the Main Press Centre.

The gang in Vancouver!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Place

During Expo 86, the Canada Pavilion at Canada Place was opened by Prince Charles and Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada. Among the largest and most elaborate pavilions presented by any nation at any World's Fair, the Canada Pavilion hosted more than 5 million visitors prior to the October 13, 1986 closing date.

Canada Place Corporation (CPC), a Crown agent, continues to act as the coordinating landlord for Canada Place facilities.

Dinner was at the Samurai Sushi Restaurant on Davie Street - suggested by one of the hotel workers. 

 She can't pass on an Sapporo opportunity!

Let's end the day with this yummy memory!

Jan. 20 - Day 2 of skiing and more fantastic art!

Good morning with a breakfast for champions!

Bring it on!

Traffic jam heading to the hills.

I love this picture!

The Brazil-Canada team ready to rock!

They went up for a day of adventure on the hills and I stayed on  the lower ground for a fun arts experience. 
Right beside the gondola station, there is the Whistler Contemporary Gallery.

https://whistlerart.com/

David Robinson

Millstone (2/12)

Cement, bronze

28 x 26 x 6 in (71.12 x 66.04 x 15.24 cm)

Rob Burman

Skier (/500)

Various Media

8 x 9 x 3 in (20.32 x 22.86 x 7.62 cm)

On my way to the Audain Art Museum. 

Crows are everywhere, changing the peaceful sounds of the mountains.

FROM https://audainartmuseum.com/:

THE PERMANENT COLLECTION

After years of collecting and living with the rich artistic heritage of the province they love, Audain and his wife Yoshiko Karasawa decided to donate their collection to the public by creating a cultural hub featuring their boutique collection of British Columbia art.

Situated on the shared, unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nation, the Museum’s Permanent Collection celebrates artistic difference in BC from the late 18th century to the present. Anchoring the collection is The Dance Screen (The Scream Too), a finely carved red cedar dance screen by Haida Chief 7idansuu (James Hart).

FROM: https://audainartmuseum.com/

Our design responds to these determinants, simply and directly, by projecting a volume of sequential public spaces and galleries into an existing linear void within the surrounding forest. It is elevated a full storey above the ground and crowned with a steeply-sloped roof, containing administration and back-of-house support functions.

The building design and siting work synergistically within the context of the site to create a public pedestrian link, beginning from the ‘Village Stroll’ (the pedestrian spine of Whistler Village) across Blackcomb Way, leading to and through the Museum and then across the site to Fitzsimmons Creek.

A bridge from Blackcomb Way rises through the forest to arrive at a sky-lit museum entry porch. From there, visitors can either descend to the forest floor and central meadow to continue their passage through the site, or enter into the museum lobby and event space.

Once inside, visitors proceed along a glazed walkway overlooking the meadow below, to gain access first to the galleries which contain the permanent collection and then to the temporary exhibition galleries.

The form and character of the building and interiors is deliberately restrained to provide a quiet, minimal backdrop to the art within and the surrounding natural landscape. The simple form of the exterior is clad in an envelope of dark metal which recedes into the shadows of the surrounding forest. Where this envelope is opened, to provide access in the entry porch or view from the glazed walkway to the galleries, the metal is overlaid by a luminous wood casing.

Public spaces in the interior, which are visible from the exterior, continue this warm luminous materiality. Gallery interiors in both the permanent and temporary exhibition areas are closed white volumes with minimal detail.

John Patkau, Patkau Architects

This is their signature piece: The Dance Screen by James Hart.

I close up of the Dance Screen.

FROM: https://audainartmuseum.com/

ABOUT THE DANCE SCREEN

Unprecedented in contemporary Northwest Coast art, James Hart’s elaborately carved cedar dance screen is unique in both the depth of the carving and the free-standing design. One of Hart’s most important works to date, the carving represents a strong connection to the traditions of the Haida.

The Dance Screen (The Scream Too) depicts many traditional Haida beings and emphasizes the fundamental role of the salmon within Haida society and ecosystems. Many of the figures are shown speaking or calling out, acknowledging concern for the salmon who are threatened by environmental factors.

Both a barrier and a doorway, the work declares the existence of both the spirit realm and the human realm. When danced, the screen allows for a transition between these two realms.

Hart also positions this major Haida artistic achievement within an uncommon postmodern context with reference to the iconic artwork by Edvard Munch, The Scream. This positioning makes a statement about traditional Haida life and culture, both past and present.

The museum has a vast collection of Emily Carr.

War Canoes, Alert Bay, 1912

Street, Alert Bay, 1912. FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Carr

Emily Carr (December 13, 1871 – March 2, 1945) was a Canadian artist who was inspired by the monumental art and villages of the First Nations and the landscapes of British Columbia. She also was a vivid writer and chronicler of life in her surroundings, praised for her "complete candour" and "strong prose". Klee Wyck, her first book, published in 1941, won the Governor General's Literary Award for non-fiction and this book and others written by her or compiled from her writings later are still much in demand today.

Bertram Charles (B.C.) Binning (1909-1976) Triptych of Nautical Symbols, 1956

Freda Diesing (1925-2002)

Old Woman with Labret, 1973

Beau Dick (1955-2017) Dzunukwa Mask, 2007

Joseph Tisiga (1984 -) A Prop for Reconciliation (Dilton), 2017

One of the exhibitions at the moment is by Canadian artist Gathie Falk, called Revelations.

Crucifixion , 1966

Gathie Falk

18 Pairs of Red Shoes With Roses, 1973

Gathie Falk

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gathie_Falk

Gathie Falk was born on January 31, 1928, in Alexander near Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, to immigrant Russian Mennonite parents. Her father, Cornelius, died that same year and her mother, Agatha, went to work to support her and her older brother Gordon, while her eldest brother, Jack, had to move in with another family. In 1930, the Falk family relocated to another small town in southern Manitoba and continued to move around, eventually ending up in Winnipeg when Falk was a teenager. At 16, she left high school to work so she could assist with the family finances and completed her education via correspondence courses. When she was 19, Falk and her mother moved to Vancouver, where she still resides. Her first job in the city was at a luggage factory, where she sewed pockets inside the suitcases. This experience helped her develop her skills in detailed handicraft, which would later become integral to her artistic practice. Falk then became a school teacher in 1953 and taught elementary students until 1965, when she left to commit herself full-time to creating art.

A stop to appreciate the museum's architecture integrating the natural environment.

Another exhibition at the Audian Museum right now is by Canadian artist Karin Bubas, called Garden of Shadows.

FROM :https://audainartmuseum.com/exhibitions/karin-bubas/

KARIN BUBAS: GARDEN OF SHADOWS 

Garden of Shadows is an exploration of the artist’s ongoing Studies of Women in Landscapes series, featuring enigmatic photographs of women in remote outdoor settings, alongside her innovative photographic sculptures that layer images to depict West Coast forests and floral arrangements. Both types of work invite viewers to contemplate the hidden aspects of nature and human experience.

This Vancouver-based artist infuses photography with an air of intrigue, while deftly intertwining the ethereal and mundane. Her Studies of Women in Landscapes series draws inspiration from mysterious moments in modernist cinema. These images present solitary women within seemingly idyllic and apocalyptic settings extending from Canada to Iceland. The interplay between nature and culture comes alive through the carefully selected haute couture-inspired clothing worn by her models that echo the landscape’s tone and subtly contrast surrounding flora. The figure-landscape combinations in this exhibition are contrasted by a series of paper toles that are a return to an aesthetic exploration by Bubaš dating back twenty-five years.

Back to the village, the sun was timid, trying to come out.

But it didn't last.

Some street art at the village.

Instead of burning calories skiing, I decided to put on MORE calories at the Purebread Bakery, while waiting for them to get back fro the mountain. Thanks, Gina for the tip!

And that's how we ended of Whistler part of the trip, with two great skiing days and lots of west coast art. 
Who's ready for Vancouver?