New Vancouver Art Gallery | Proposed - Page 8

jlousa · #**141** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 3:16 AM**

Have UBC move their law faculty there, and have last year law students offering free advice to the masses. I really have no idea what could capture such a prominent building.

hollywoodnorth · #**142** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Have UBC move their law faculty there, and have last year law students offering free advice to the masses. I really have no idea what could capture such a prominent building.

starbucks?

djh · #**143** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:04 AM**

If the current VAG site only can showcase 3% of the collection, why would they want to build a new facility that is only twice the size - meaning that would only be able to showcase presumably 6% of the collection? Wouldn't it make sense to build a facility large enough to showcase most or all of the collection? Or have a smaller collection?

ozonemania · #**144** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:29 AM**

Most art galleries do not have their whole collection on display at any given time. It's a little misleading, the 3% number. But it should be a higher percentage for sure.

It's a shame tho because the VAG is actually very well suited to the site, other than the square footage of available space, in my opinion. It would probably do reasonably well at the space near the QE, but any further out from the CBC and it becomes problematic. That's why the False Creek VAG site announced by Campbell just didn't seem right.

Ok well that's it then, what we need is for Sears to spontaneously spawn an mini black hole which will cause it to implode which would force us to build a 300m tower with an extension of the current VAG into that space, along with a 5 level underground expansion of the Pacific Centre Mall, and a grand public square, as well as connectors to Robson street and between the Canada and Expo lines. Oh and flanked by palm trees.

Spork · #**145** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 6:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozonemania

Most art galleries do not have their whole collection on display at any given time. It's a little misleading, the 3% number. But it should be a higher percentage for sure.

It's a shame tho because the VAG is actually very well suited to the site, other than the square footage of available space, in my opinion. It would probably do reasonably well at the space near the QE, but any further out from the CBC and it becomes problematic. That's why the False Creek VAG site announced by Campbell just didn't seem right.

Ok well that's it then, what we need is for Sears to spontaneously spawn an mini black hole which will cause it to implode which would force us to build a 300m tower with an extension of the current VAG into that space, along with a 5 level underground expansion of the Pacific Centre Mall, and a grand public square, as well as connectors to Robson street and between the Canada and Expo lines. Oh and flanked by palm trees.

You forgot the ferris wheel on top. You must be new here.

If only Sears Canada was losing as much money as Sears Holdings Corp.

MistyMountainHop · #**146** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:01 AM**

Demolish the Sears building and put an expansion to the Gallery there (and open a North side entrance to the existing building, too).

wrenegade · #**147** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:14 AM**

Speaking of UBC, what is the possibility of booting them out of their space? Could the VAG connect their current space with UBC's? I mean, I'm sure UBC loves to be there (I've taken some classes/seminars there) but it's more important to have the VAG in that location than it is UBC.

teriyaki · #**148** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by awvan

Speaking of UBC, what is the possibility of booting them out of their space? Could the VAG connect their current space with UBC's? I mean, I'm sure UBC loves to be there (I've taken some classes/seminars there) but it's more important to have the VAG in that location than it is UBC.

Its probably worth more than meets the eye. SFU has a campus downtown, so if UBC lost its position DT, it would put them at a disadvantage (regardless of how effective the "mini-campus" in downtown anyways).

wrenegade · #**149** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:28 AM**

Oh I totally understand that UBC wants/needs to be downtown, but I think it would be easier to find space for them than it would be for the VAG.

SpongeG · #**150** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:42 AM**

UBC could take over the post office

red-paladin · #**151** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 8:57 AM**

I thought the UBC space was not very large.

Distill3d · #**152** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 11:39 AM**

I'm not sure if this is dead in the water, but what about the Post Office Building as a new location? Wasn't it up for sale a while back?

Rusty Gull · #**153** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 3:01 PM**

The most important issue here is whether the Art Gallery really needs to move or not. Having spoken to several insiders, it is clear that the current facility is just fine -- despite what the VAG's messengers say to the media and the local art community.

The VAG's executive director is highly ambitious, and we are fortunate to have her - the VAG has been on a successful roll for the past 4 or 5 years, there's no doubt. But it's clear she is aiming to create an ambitious legacy for the VAG. And I don't hold anything against her for that.

But is leaving the very best location in the city - making art accessible to locals, tourists, and just about everybody - for a more remote downtown location the best idea? The bottom line is that the current location is a great fit for the city and for the gallery.

Rusty Gull · #**154** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

UBC could take over the post office

Or, if the art gallery moved to the Post office, could UBC take over the empty VAG site?

flight_from_kamakura · #**155** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:46 PM**

imo, the best option would be an expansion into the eaton building, so much could be done, and the space is 7/10 of the way to where it would need to be. but idea is pretty outlandish even to imagine, absent sears going belly up.

Prometheus · #**156** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:48 PM**

To voluntarily abandon the current site--a grand, classical, stately building which exudes prestige, history, high-culture and sits in the very heart of the city--would be absurd. It is precisely the kind of building and location that any aspiring institution of art and culture would die to inhabit.

The people pushing for a move (as opposed to renovating the interior of the current building, and possibly adding an architecturally visionary extension, like the crystal extension to the Royal Ontario Musem in Toronto) should be pubicly tarred and feathered.

Here is a photo of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal extension of the ROM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livinginacity/2438302859/sizes/l/in/set-72157602021148474/

Here is an aerial perspective: http://z.about.com/d/gocanada/1/0/G/4/-/-/Michael_Lee_Chin_Crystal_aerial.jpg

Here is an interior photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wvs/531216492/sizes/o/in/set-72157600312482591/

itinerant · #**157** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 6:52 PM**

I agree the VAG is well situated at the city centre just where it is, but I also realize it is rather cramped for exhibition of larger works and travelling exhibitions.

I think the current leadership at the VAG has much grander aspirations that won't fit into the curio courthouse. If they take out UBC and restore the larger spaces of the former Robson Media Centre currently in-filled by classrooms, they may be able to at least reclaim 2 very large areas: the movie theatre and exhibition hall. Both spaces are 2-storey overheight rooms and very large. Personally, I'd like to see the theatre restored completely, but if the gallery were to move in they might want to make it more multi-purpose than that. I am told that modifications made for UBC were done in such a way that the changes can be reversed. Additionally, there is the very fine lecture theatre that still remains--and should continue to do so as part of the Art Gallery.

Where should UBC go? Just elsewhere, please. They adapted the Media Centre to their needs with reckless abandon and have made a mess of it. Perhaps they'd be better located in a commercial tower of their own design much like BCIT did very successfully over on Seymour. Perhaps they could take over 777 Hornby and convert the parking garage and tower into their exclusive use--still a very high profile (perhaps moreso) spot for them.

wrenegade · #**158** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:24 PM**

I was thinking about that the other day. Fitting UBC into 777 hornby on a couple floors while letting the VAG take their space would seem like the best option.

djmk · #**159** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:33 PM**

Even the greatest museum in the world, the Louvre, had to go through extensive renovations and additions, notably the lobby and the pyramids in the 1980's.

They dug down deep to create that space. Can the VAG do the same? Maybe the entrance should be under a great big clam shell off of Georgia rather than the VAG front doors.

itinerant · #**160** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:40 PM**

Also, why does the VAG need to be in just one location? Couldn't they keep their existing location for part of the collection, and add a satellite gallery elsewhere--perhaps as part of a Larwill Park arts precinct? The Guggenheim has satellites in NYC in SOHO, and franchised their brand worldwide. On a smaller scale and closer to us in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Art Museum operates out of a new downtown venue but kept their previous Volunteer Park museum for their excellent Asian collection. Couldn't something like this meet the objective of a 'modern' new gallery space while keeping the stately Courthouse venue as host to part of the collection?