North Shore Updates - Page 114

officedweller · #**2261** Posted **Apr 15, 2021, 11:46 PM**

Grosvenor Ambleside

"Tree Snag" sculpture by Douglas Coupland installed in West Vancouver
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tree-snag-douglas-coupland-grosvenor-ambleside-west-vancouver

Installation progress of Douglas Coupland's Tree Snag sculpture at Grosvenor Ambleside in West Vancouver. Captured on April 14, 2021. (Daily Hive)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tree-snag-douglas-coupland-grosvenor-ambleside-west-vancouver

jollyburger · #**2262** Posted **Apr 16, 2021, 10:22 PM**

Gold would have been too tacky in West Van?

Marshal · #**2263** Posted **Apr 17, 2021, 7:59 AM**

Just how many Douglas Coupland sculptures can we have? Vancouver has a number of good sculptors and artists to choose from. Its a joke and tells us just how limited the imagination of developers is.

jollyburger · #**2264** Posted **Apr 17, 2021, 4:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshal

Just how many Douglas Coupland sculptures can we have? Vancouver has a number of good sculptors and artists to choose from. Its a joke and tells us just how limited the imagination of developers is.

Same could be said for almost everyone in the fine arts.

But at least he has a connection to West Vancouver, he lived there as a child and still does (?)

officedweller · #**2265** Posted **Apr 17, 2021, 5:52 PM**

I actually like the tree trunk ones (and the pixelated killer whale) - at least they're substantial.

SpongeG · #**2266** Posted **Apr 20, 2021, 7:38 AM**

The one inside Simons is nice too.

Marshal · #**2267** Posted **Apr 20, 2021, 8:10 AM**

While I am not a fan of Coupland, especially his writing, I don't have any complaints about many of the sculptures. Though superficial, they are nice enough for what they are, and as they are commercial purchases by developers, who can complain.

Nevertheless, his partial monopoly is a little out of hand: pixel orca, bubble gum head (is it still there?), and works at Brentwood, Cambie and Marine, West Van, Simons . . .

By comparison, Ken Lum, a truly significant Vancouver Artist, is grossly under-represented in his home town: the East Van totem sign, Vancouver Special Scaled to Value (is it still there?), VAG ships, and hopefully some works I don't know about - but I doubt it.

And there's Jeff Wall, perhaps Vancouver's most influential artist of the last ~30 years, whose back-lit photographic compositions are ideal candidates to accompany new buildings.

There is other and better art out there, deserving of some support. Coupland is a commercial enterprise which vacuums up too much money and attention.

[Normally I would prefer to promote deserving artists without complaining about the success of another. However, it is part of Coupland's aesthetic-persona shtick to commercialize and promote himself - so he is open to such a critique. Any artist wants to succeed, but artists like Lum, Wall, Nadine Stefan, Michael Hayden, Anne Sargent, Stan Douglas, Gathie Falk . . . all would know that their city would be best served with works that represent all of its talent. Coupland seems to be happy seeing himself everywhere,]

Heck, commission Joe Average or Ian Wallace to do something.

Changing City · #**2268** Posted **Apr 20, 2021, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshal

While I am not a fan of Coupland, especially his writing, I don't have any complaints about many of the sculptures. Though superficial, they are nice enough for what they are, and as they are commercial purchases by developers, who can complain.

Nevertheless, his partial monopoly is a little out of hand: pixel orca, bubble gum head (is it still there?), and works at Brentwood, Cambie and Marine, West Van, Simons . . .

By comparison, Ken Lum, a truly significant Vancouver Artist, is grossly under-represented in his home town: the East Van totem sign, Vancouver Special Scaled to Value (is it still there?), VAG ships, and hopefully some works I don't know about - but I doubt it.

And there's Jeff Wall, perhaps Vancouver's most influential artist of the last ~30 years, whose back-lit photographic compositions are ideal candidates to accompany new buildings.

There is other and better art out there, deserving of some support. Coupland is a commercial enterprise which vacuums up too much money and attention.

[Normally I would prefer to promote deserving artists without complaining about the success of another. However, it is part of Coupland's aesthetic-persona shtick to commercialize and promote himself - so he is open to such a critique. Any artist wants to succeed, but artists like Lum, Wall, Nadine Stefan, Michael Hayden, Anne Sargent, Stan Douglas, Gathie Falk . . . all would know that their city would be best served with works that represent all of its talent. Coupland seems to be happy seeing himself everywhere,]

Heck, commission Joe Average or Ian Wallace to do something.

There are at least a couple of Ken Lum pieces you don't mention - one at the City Works Yard on False Creek Flats, and a more recent one in Burnaby, which is a sculpture of a horse.

Both Gum Head by Coupland and the Vancouver Special Scaled to Value were intended to be temporary exhibits.

Doug Coupland lives here, and works here, so it's not surprising he is commissioned more than some other artists - He has as many artworks installed in Toronto as he does in Vancouver. Ken Lum moved away from Vancouver some years ago.

Maybe Westbank could find a way of locating a Jeff Wall photograph like they did with the Stan Douglas work commissioned for Woodwards, but a free-standing sculpture is obviously an entirely different type of work.

jollyburger · #**2269** Posted **Apr 20, 2021, 8:16 PM**

I mean the fine arts world is no different than the roster of "rock star" architects that get chosen for high profile projects. If anything it should be the city evaluating what their objectives are for public art and what process/review developers on choosing their contribution.

It seems like the Grosvenor public art was just a gift indepdendent of their development application?

These are the other Coupland/Gordon Smith sculptures:

Credit: Globe & Mail

Vin · #**2270** Posted **Apr 21, 2021, 11:47 PM**

All these are way better than anything displayed in Vancouver. Worst of the lot is the pile of junk cars on that tree trunk, as well as the poodle on the stick. The ladder that goes nowhere along Kingsway is another junk display.

officedweller · #**2271** Posted **Apr 21, 2021, 11:54 PM**

Yeah that last one is great.

officedweller · #**2272** Posted **Apr 24, 2021, 1:54 AM**

The Crest

From January 6, bit I don't think a near completion pic was ever posted:

https://twitter.com/seagatetimber

jollyburger · #**2273** Posted **Apr 24, 2021, 2:14 AM**

They have rooftop terraces:

https://www.instagram.com/aderahome/

jollyburger · #**2274** Posted **May 6, 2021, 7:44 PM**

The construction site for the Park Royal condos got shut down by coastal health on April 29 for a Covid outbreak.

SpongeG · #**2275** Posted **May 13, 2021, 7:18 AM**

Vancouver gallery wins AIA 2021 Architecture Award
May 6, 2021

The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C., designed by Patkau Architects, has won the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA’s) 2021 Architecture Award.

Ten projects were recognized in the 2021 Architecture Awards program which celebrates the best contemporary architecture and highlights the many ways buildings and spaces can improve lives. The nine-member jury selects submissions demonstrating design achievement, including a sense of place, purpose, history, and environmental sustainability.

...

https://www.constructioncanada.net/vancouver-gallery-wins-aia-2021-architecture-award/

mcminsen · #**2276** Posted **May 19, 2021, 6:27 PM**

The two towers at Gateway Residences at Park Royal in West Vancouver. Looking east from the bridge over Park Royal South and Marine Drive.

May 17 '21, my pics

mcminsen · #**2277** Posted **May 19, 2021, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

... and to the east of the Lions Gate Bridge @ Capilano,
Vancouver Market.ca posts about the Earls site and the corner site
going to final approval next week:

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2018/04/13/two-marine-drive-tower-projects-seek-final-approval/

303 Marine Drive
(Earls Tin Palace site)

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2018/04/13/two-marine-drive-tower-projects-seek-final-approval/

...

^^^ officedweller's post is from April 13 '18.

A couple of shots from the bus...

May 17 '21, my pics

mcminsen · #**2278** Posted **May 19, 2021, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

...

1633 Capilano Road (Park West)
(Grouse Inn site)

...

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2018/04/13/two-marine-drive-tower-projects-seek-final-approval/

...

^^^ I think the rendering is looking across Capilano Road to the southwest. So, the tower on the left is the one right at the corner of Capilano Road and Marine Drive.

My pics are from Marine Drive going west.

May 17 '21, my pics

dleung · #**2279** Posted **May 19, 2021, 7:55 PM**

^^All these towers are looking a bit bland and mid-market for West Vancouver. Am hoping for more of the Grovesnor Ambleside or the Argyle type aesthetic for the more West-Coast feel

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Crest

From January 6, bit I don't think a near completion pic was ever posted:

https://twitter.com/seagatetimber

Lol, no money for decent cladding, but they have money for that pointless pylon/tail-rudder thing at the end

officedweller · #**2280** Posted **May 19, 2021, 8:00 PM**

Thaks for the tour, McMinsen!
The Park Royal towers look good (though lacking in colour, they have some texture and the setbacks for the roof mechanical look okay.

Good to see the other projects near Capilano Rd progressing too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

Lol, no money for decent cladding, but they have money for that pointless pylon/tail-rudder thing at the end

The balcony railing look good, with the extra cross bars.