2011 Memory Festival -- The Published Entries

Recently, I submitted thirty entries as part of the 2011 Memory Festival, running from November 12th to November 19th at the Roundhouse Community Centre in downtown Vancouver.  Each entry consisted of a Vancouver memory in the form of one complete sentence.  Out of those thirty entries, six entries made the cut and are currently on display, along with photos, multimedia and other entries  documenting Vancouver's recent and far past. 

Here are the six entries that made the cut.  I saw the display in a clockwise fashion, and recorded them here in the manner that I discovered them:

Seeing the blue tarp covering the fire-damaged roof of the 1899 Carleton Hall at Guy Carleton School meant another day of uncertainty.
 

Whatever happened to the Challenger Map, the world's largest relief map that was once housed in the BC Pavilion at the PNE?
  

Remembering the ability to look at the North Shore Mountains outside my window, now blocked out by the neighbouring “Vancouver Special”.
 

Christmas on Bursill Street in East Vancouver:  seeing a lineup of cars and tour buses that wanted to gawk at a neighbour's over-the-top Christmas light display, complete with giant star,“HO HO HO” sign, toy soldiers and holiday music.  


Windermere Secondary, grade nine, 1985-86: Surprised at a small kiddie pool filled with water and some sand in the hallway that someone had brought in to celebrate “beach day.”
 

Participated in "Operation Bookworm"  a special event in 1995 where citizens could symbolically transfer a book from the old library at Robson and Burrard to Library Square on Georgia Street;  I carried "The City Seen from A to Z".  

There are other memory entries by others and doesn't take a lot of time to read them.  The 2011 Vancouver Memory Festival is running from November 12th to November 18th at the Roundhouse Community Centre.  

Vancouver's Heritage and a Civic Election

One realizes that there's a civic election coming up in Vancouver;  the following message below came up in my Twitter feed.

"Heritage is key in Vancouver, and we can go farther to protect heritage buildings, including our schools - @SuzanneAnton #vanelxn"

It's a rather ironic message considering that under this year's city council, the city saw the loss of the Pantages Theatre, on East Hastings Street.  Moreover, the Legg Residence, an entry on the 2011 Top Ten Endangered Heritage Sites List is under threat of demolition.  The Legg Residence from 1899 is one of the last examples of a nineteenth century estate home in the West End of Vancouver.  Rightly so, it is a category "A" class heritage landmark, speaking to its historical importance to Vancouver and to the era. 

I am hopeful for a last minute reprieve for this rare heritage site in Vancouver's West End.  It is a surprise in a sea of highrise residential towers.  There have been some positive developments.  Vancouver Public Library's Collingwood Public Library in East Vancouver, a Modernist gem on Kingsway, has been recognized for its design with its inclusion on the 2011 Top Ten Endangered Heritage List.  Vancouver's Green Thumb Theatre will be restoring and refurbishing the 1896 one room school house building found at Guy Carleton Elementary School. 

However, there doesn't seem to be much support from both the electorate and from our city officials on heritage issues.  Collingwood Public Library is still awaiting a heritage designation, and Carleton Hall was in danger of falling into destruction due to neglect.  Some of our local media have not necessarily made Vancouver's heritage issues a priority when it comes to news coverage.  Our elected officals cannot be wholly faulted;  some local residents and members of our electorate don't necessarily see Vancouver's built heritage as a huge concern either.

If the built heritage of Vancouver deserves consideration and care, it should be an issue that crosses all political, social and economic lines.  In the meantime, I'd like the city to raise the bar when it comes to urban design, championing architectural excellence in its private and public buildings in all parts of the city.  Vancouver's city council took a chance on a young upstart architectural partnership of Harold Semmens and Douglas Simpson to design a branch library in Renfrew Collingwood in 1951.   Where are the architectural landmarks of tomorrow, especially on the east side of Vancouver?




 

Art Gallery of Alberta a Community Inspiration

I had taken a short vacation in Edmonton -- yes, Edmonton! I wanted to go and see the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Art Gallery of Alberta. I was so impressed with my visit that I wrote up a letter to the editor to the Edmonton Journal newspaer about it. I had written letters to the editor before to the Vancouver Sun, but didn't have much success at being published in the newspaper.

To my surprise, the letter has just been published and is now visible in the letters section of the Edmonton Journal website. I had found out about it through an email correspondent. Should you wish to see the letter with accompanying stock photo, click on the link to see the letter: http://tiny.cc/jiind

If there's one thing Vancouver should take away from this community example, it's to have more consideration for the city's arts and culture sector.  The creative class often enhances the quality of life in a city.

But for your convenience, here is the letter in its entirety:

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the new Art Gallery of Alberta during a short vacation to Edmonton, and the results are most impressive. The art gallery is a clear affirmation of the importance of the visual arts in the Edmonton community.

The city has much to be proud of in their new art gallery facilities. The gallery spaces are comfortable and spacious, and there was an interesting, engaging mix of exhibitions at the time of my visit: Canada's Lawren Harris, conceptual art in Canada and even Andy Warhol.

I thought the small café on the third level was a thoughtful touch for visitors looking for rest and refreshment, as is the rooftop sculpture garden.

Zinc, the restaurant, is a beautiful place for lunch serving meals with locally sourced ingredients and friendly service. While some citizens may balk at the unusual architectural style of the building, I find it compelling that the distinctive design is able to reference the Edmonton community. Consequently, the Art Gallery of Alberta's architectural design is without equal in Western Canada.

As for the issue of whether it is a prudent use of tax dollars, there's something prudent about investing money in a city's cultural infrastructure. A new art gallery ensures that the institution's collection will be cared for in appropriate surroundings and viewed in a building that will anticipate future audiences and demands.

In contrast, my community of Vancouver is moving slowly on the idea of supporting the Vancouver Art Gallery's proposal to move to a new purpose-built facility elsewhere in downtown Vancouver.

While I'm confident in the process, some citizens seem indifferent to the art gallery's plight. Moreover, a recent study in British Columbia determined that for every dollar spent on arts and culture, the economy gets back $1.36 within a year. It would be interesting to find out if the province of Alberta experiences the same positive phenomenon.

There is no doubt that the City of Edmonton and its citizens are making arts and culture a priority in their community as seen in the new AGA and also in the emerging discussions surrounding the design of the Royal Alberta Museum.

Edmonton's example to carve out such a robust arts and cultural scene should be an example to other western Canadian communities.

Submission for "Around the Gallery in 80 Artworks"

In celebration of the Vancouver Art Gallery's 80th Birthday this year, the gallery is soliciting for gallery highlights from a diverse array of individuals: members, artists, staff. This time I had the privilege of selecting a highlight from the Vancouver Art Gallery's art collection. I chose Fred Herzog's "Hastings at Columbia" and below, this is the original text I've submitted to the Vancouver Art Gallery for publication.

I highly recommend a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery for a dose of visual arts. There's often a nice combination of art from the international art world as well as a spotlight to our own artists from right here in British Columbia and Canada.


On the cusp of the Vancouver Art Gallery's 80th birthday, I've selected Fred Herzog's "Hastings at Columbia" as one of the highlights of the gallery's collection. There are many reasons this work deserves highlighting. First the composition of the photo is admirable: the colourful and chaotic layers of neon signs, the sidewalks of Hastings Street teeming with pedestrians, the hint of blue sky peeking through the urban jumble. Even the small details are wonderful: the sartorial flair of the pedestrian wearing a red cardigan, the large type headline of the newspaper for sale in the foreground, the weathered store awnings. Herzog captured the vivid and busy urban scene that existed on Vancouver's Hastings Street in 1958.

In addition, Herzog's "Hastings at Columbia" is a lovely touchstone to the city's past. The photo reminds me of the old neon signs that used to exist in my neighbourhood of Renfrew Collingwood. Dragon Inn, Wally's Burgers and the Apostolic Church of Christ on Kingsway were our neighbourhood neon landmarks; now only the 2400 Motel sign still stands. The memory lives again as a result of seeing the photo. Remarkably, the same phenomenon occurred at the 2007 Fred Herzog show at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I would overhear fleeting memories of Vancouver among some of the patrons who saw something familiar in his photos. In those small, intimate moments, I was able to witness the potential and power of art that speaks of our community and connects to our community.

While New York City had Walker Evans to document everyday life in the city, Vancouver thankfully has Fred Herzog, and our collective ability to recall Vancouver's history is a little richer because of it. If it is ever on display again, go and look at this photo to gain an appreciation of our city's past. Perhaps some of us may even see inspiration for where our city needs to go next.

Collingwood Library: A Place That Matters

Submitted for the September 2011 issue of the Renfrew Collingwood Community newspaper. I don't know if this made deadline, but this is good news that deserves to be shared!

Collingwood Library: A Place That Matters

A local landmark in Renfrew Collingwood was chosen as one of Vancouver’s “125 Places That Matter,” a project sponsored by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the city of Vancouver’s heritage buildings and structures. Renfrew Collingwood’s own Collingwood branch library will be recognized with a plaque that will be installed on or in the library sometime in the fall of 2011.

Designed by local Vancouver architects Harold Semmens and Douglas Simpson, Collingwood branch library opened in July 1951. The building’s contemporary design inspired regional library design from Kelowna to New Westminster. The library’s design pedigree has enjoyed some recent notoriety. The library was included in a “Top Ten Endangered Heritage Sites” list for 2011 compiled by Heritage Vancouver (a different organization), and highlighted by a bus tour and recent panel discussion in June. Moreover, the work of Douglas Simpson is finally gaining wider recognition with a monograph of the architect’s work in the planning stage.

Other local landmarks from Renfrew Collingwood nominated for recognition included Guy Carleton Elementary School, the 2400 Motel, Avalon Dairy (located at 43^rd Avenue and Wales Street) and Collingwood Neighbourhood House. (At press time, no decision had been made regarding the inclusion of any other landmarks from Renfrew Collingwood .)

According to its website, the foundation “asked Vancouverites to get involved in choosing 125 sites where plaques will be mounted commemorating people, places and events that helped to shape our city.” These nominations were then put to a public online vote and the 125 choices finalized by an eleven person selection committee.

According to Mr. Sean Ayers, Development Officer at the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, they are looking for sponsors for the plaque that will be installed at Collingwood branch library. The cost to sponsor a site is $750.00. According to a recent email correspondence, “the sponsorship will pay for original research of the site, the production and installation of the plaque, and the creation of a website that will elaborate on the site’s history.” A charitable tax receipt will be issued to individuals sponsoring a plaque.

For more information regarding Vancouver’s “125 Places That Matter” please check www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org.

Stained Glass Windows at St. Mary's Parish, East Vancouver

Local glass artist Lutz Haufschild is not a household name in Vancouver, and it’s a shame. Many of his works decorate buildings both here in the Lower Mainland and in places around the world such as Taiwan, USA and Germany. His most prominent local work, “The Great Wave” at the Vancouver International Airport is an immense glass portrayal of the ocean and complements Bill Reid’s iconic “Jade Canoe” sculpture. What is little known is that an equally stunning work by this internationally renowned artist resides quietly in Renfrew Collingwood.

Located at the northwest corner of Kingsway and Joyce Streets, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church features four stunning stained glass windows at the top of the church structure. The name of this set of four windows is “The Four Seasons.” What sets them apart from conventional stained glass church windows are the fluid abstract shapes and vivid colours. Each window is symbolic of a season due to its placement and its use of specific colours. As a long time parishioner of St. Mary’s, I never grew tired of looking at these beautiful windows.

Easily reachable by his website, www.glassfocus.com, Mr. Haufschild kindly answered some questions regarding “The Four Seasons.”

Q: How did you land the commission to design the windows for St. Mary’s church?

I was recommended to the committee by the architect. Also, the budget was so low that it required somebody with my knowledge and resources to complete the large area competently.

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for the window designs?

The committee proposed the theme of "The Four Seasons" to celebrate God's creation. I happily experimented with colors and their volume according to their prominence during the particular season.

Q: Who or what influences your artistic work?

All good contemporary artists and architects and their exceptional projects influence my work, as does nature. My studio, f.e. is in the coastal mountains of BC at the shore of Lillooet Lake near Whistler.

Q: What has been the reaction from the audience regarding the St. Mary’s church windows?

As far as I know very good. The work was conceived so that there are significant changes in the appearance of the windows and their reflections in the interior, depending on the time of day and the seasons, to more appreciate our beautiful planet.

In closing, Mr. Haufschild offered some very helpful advice in viewing the windows: “By the way, stained glass from the outside is never very appealing (unless there is light inside the church). Stained glass, like mankind, needs light to live.”

If you want to view the windows yourself, since St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is private property and a place of worship, please check their website www.stmarysvancouver.ca for more information on times when the church is open for worship and visiting. For more information on artist Lutz Haufschild and his glass work (as well as information on his local and international projects), check his website at www.glassfocus.com.

Talk: Preserving Modernist Buildings in Vancouver – How well are we doing?

Here is the speech in its entirety that I delivered at a lecture at the Museum of Vancouver on Thursday, June 14, 2011. Sponsored by Heritage Vancouver, the subject of the talk was preserving the built Modernist architectural heritage in Vancouver. I was there to talk about the case of preserving and refurbishing the Vancouver Public Library's Collingwood branch library, designed by Vancouver based architects Harold Semmens and Douglas Simpson.

As a long time resident of East Vancouver, sometimes it’s difficult to find beauty where I live. Unlike the downtown core, East Vancouver’s Renfrew Collingwood neighbourhood tends to exist in anonymity. Some residents see Renfrew Collingwood as a transition point, a place that exists on the literal journey from point A to point B. Some residents see it also as a place where one resides before moving up economically and socially in the Lower Mainland. However, the beauty exists. It’s there waiting quietly, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by its local residents.

That is the case of Vancouver Public Library’s Collingwood branch library on Kingsway. You might have overlooked this building; a small, low-slung structure sitting at the northwest corner of Kingsway and Rupert. On any given day, the library is a hub of activity: seniors reading newspapers share the tables with children reading picture books; young adults check their email at the computers. The lone librarian on duty sits at a corner desk. It is the Clark Kent of Vancouver’s library branches, faithfully serving the intellectual needs of the local residents for almost sixty years with little appreciation. However, unlike Clark Kent’s ability to disguise his identity with black rimmed glasses and a business suit, the library building’s design has a distinctive elegance that’s difficult to hide. Just who designed this building and what is it doing here in East Vancouver?

A little bit of detective work yields a colourful history for Collingwood branch library. Designed by the local architectural partnership of Harold Semmens and Douglas Simpson, the branch opened in July 1951. Against a sparsely urbanized backdrop, the pair unveiled a library so confident of its time. Stripped of all needless ornamentation, the library’s design emphasized rectangular lines, natural stone, glass, and a modest scale that suited the humility of the area. With such a friendly face to the neighbourhood, Collingwood branch library soon became the most visited Modernist building in Vancouver, and also racked up the highest circulation rates for children’s material among all the branch libraries in Vancouver. The design of Collingwood branch library made it possible that a library could be an attractive and welcoming place for all citizens.

Nowadays, the status of this little library branch is a little less certain, and a lot less appreciated. Ironically, it almost closed in the 1990s. The heritage status of the library is overshadowed by equally urgent concerns such as the proposed closure of Guy Carleton Elementary School. Even proper maintenance cannot be ensured. Damage to the library’s brickwork has not been fixed since a vehicle crashed into it in 2007. The original signage is gone, and the library’s deep rust colour has been painted over. So the very idea of protecting and refurbishing Collingwood branch library is a low priority.

What is to happen to this library? It’s difficult to say. Certainly its physical and mental distance from the city’s power brokers is a mixed blessing. It has been ignored and overlooked for so long that in many ways, it survives relatively intact compared to other Modernist buildings from the same era. A few improvements could render it into a civic highlight and a point of pride for the area. But it only takes the collective amnesia of the community and of those in power to doom it to a grim fate. Deterioration through neglect is already occurring, and it’s important for those in the community to act to preserve it.

Preserving and refurbishing Collingwood branch library would certainly add something wonderful to the history of our city. Sometimes Vancouver feels like a place where people reside between cross-border shopping excursions and trips to Asia or Europe. Don’t get me wrong; having a city and its citizens look outward has resulted in a city that is embracing of multiculturalism and diversity. However, at times it feels like some city residents are ignorant or indifferent of the city’s history. This ambivalence does not do much to encourage a love and appreciation of where we live. I’m sure there are some residents who might be surprised to discover a library branch of Modernist design on the east side of Vancouver. To preserve and refurbish it would remind citizens of the importance of the library in our community as well as the importance of our local history.

So if you haven’t done so already, go and visit this tiny library on the edge of Vancouver. Check out the Modernist lines and scale of this building before going in. Take some pictures of this building from different angles; find the beauty. Bring your library card, peruse its collection and borrow some library materials. Most importantly, turn community concern into action. Send a letter or email to Vancouver City Hall and to the Vancouver Public Library’s Board to ask them, at the very least, to properly maintain the building.

For those with a greater passion for the heritage of Vancouver, persuade those in power to move the library onto the city’s heritage register as a modern landmark. Perhaps with some creative fundraising and help from the community, the library’s Modernist roots could be enhanced with the signage and furnishings of the mid-century era. For an area and for a building that has existed in anonymity for so long, a little recognition would go a long way to raising Vancouver’s Modernist legacy.