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Victorious Victoria!
Victoria, British Columbia
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Emily Carr, one of Canada's best loved artists, was born in Victoria. |
Her birth home is open for visitors. Carr was a noted author who wrote The Book of Small, 1942, which was loosely based on her childhood. The landscape of her native province was a popular topic in her artwork, some of which can be found at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV).
Carr spent time with native communities and was nicknamed "Klee Wyck" or the Laughing One by the Tlingit First Nation of British Columbia. The artist had a lifelong association with Canada's Group of Seven, thanks to her friendship with Lawren Harris, who appreciated her artwork.
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Carr, like the Group of Seven, and many other artists of their received heavy criticism for their work. |
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For nearly a decade Carr put her paintbrush down, but was encouraged to continue her painting leaving a lasting legacy. The AGGV celebrates contemporary artists while hosting an impressive permanent collection of Emily Carr's works which are usually on display, currently in a long term exhibition.
Title: Tomb Figure, Prancing Horse, Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Medium: Earthenware; Pigment
Medium: 40.5 cm x 21.3 cm
AGGV Collection
Gift of Marjorie Finlayson and Fraser Finlayson
Image Courtesy: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
The AGGV has over 17,000 pieces in it's permanent collection that naturally focuses on Canadian art. It houses an extensive Asian collection and one of the most comprehensive collections of Japanese art in Canada. Currently it has an impressive exhibition exploring the art collection of the Tanenbaums.
Heaven and Earth Unveiled
European Treasures from the Tanenbaum
through May 11, 2008
Title: The Entombment , aprés 1870
Antonio Ciseri (Italian 1821-1891)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 104 x 152.4cm
The Tanenbaum Collection
Image Courtesy: The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Heaven and Earth Unveiled is discussed here.
WARHOL: Larger than Life
Andy's coming to Victoria. From May 30 through August 24 the famed American pop artist is the subject of a retrospective looking at his paintings, sculptures, drawings and film. Andy's fifteen minutes of fame are far from up!
Royal BC Museum
Title Side View of the Royal BC Museum
Image Courtesy: Royal BC Museum
"It's particularly exciting -- and perfect timing -- that Victoria has been named the North American City of Culture for 2008," says Royal BC Museum CEO Pauline Rafferty. "The City of Victoria is celebrating so many historical and cultural anniversaries this year – and, as the provincial capital, it is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of British Columbia, a milestone the Royal BC Museum is commemorating with a major new project titled Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC."
She added, "The role of the Royal BC Museum is to preserve and display the cultural and environmental history of the province. But because it is located in Victoria, it also plays a significant role in boosting the city's reputation as a world-class cultural destination. In fact, the Royal BC Museum just earned Tourism Victoria's Miracle Award for its exceptional contribution to this region."
Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC
through January 11, 2009
Title: Above Okanagan Lake
Artist: EJ Hughes (Canadian 1913-2007)
This is an unusual work for Hughes,
who is best known for images of Vancouver Island,
where he made his home until his death in 2007
Image Courtesy: Royal BC Museum
E J Hughes, like Emily Carr, celebrated the beauty of British Columbia.
His painting Above Okanagan Lake is a highlight of the Royal BC Museum's Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC currently on display.
The province is marking 150 years as a Crown Colony with multiple exhibitions and events during the year long festivities.
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Staff at the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) organized and built a 930 square metre (10,000 square foot) exhibition looking at the history of the province from ordinary and celebrated British Columbians. |
“In this exhibition, you’ll meet innovators, adventurers, creative thinkers and trend setters,” said RBCM CEO Pauline Rafferty. “You’ll discover some things about BC’s history that will surprise you. You’ll see how British Columbians of today are adding to the story of this province.”
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RBCM's mandate is to collect and preserve artifacts, documents and specimens that tell the story of British Columbia. |
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Government House & Gardens
Title: Government House Gardens in Victoria, BC, Canada
Photographer: Deddeda Stemler
Image Courtesy: Tourism Victoria
Victoria's Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the province. In 1959 the third and current structure was officially opened, the first two had unfortunately been destroyed by fires. Constructed to closely resemble the Francis Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure designed 1903 Government House.
Empress Hotel
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Tea at the Empress Hotel is de rigeur to truly experience the old Victoria. English architect Francis Rattenbury designed the hotel for Canadian Pacific Railways. The intial hotel was completed in 1908, though additions were later added. The Prince of Wales danced in the Crystal Ballroom, at a ball in 1919. |
Title: Empress Room at the Empress Hotel Victoria, British Columbia,
Image Courtesy: Fairmont Empress Victoria
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Edwardian style afternoon tea is always popular. With scones, jams, Jersey cream and of course soothing tea this is a relaxing way to while away an afternoon. |
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Victoria's 'official' history is traced to August 2, 1862, when it was incorporated as a city. Within ten years British Columbia became the sixth province to join the Dominion of Canada, and Victoria was it's capital city. Named for Queen Victoria, it is the third oldest city in the Western provinces.
Title: Parliament Buildings with Carriage in Victoria, BC, Canada
Image Courtesy: Tourism Victoria
A capital city needs government buildings and the first Governor, James Douglas, organized the construction of the necessary buildings. It was a surveyor, H.O. Tiedemann, who made the designs not reflecting the staid Victorian style but a multitude of designs combining, " Chinese pagoda, Swiss-cottage and Italian-villa fancy birdcages," according to the 1859 Victoria Gazette. The nickname stuck, they are called, "the birdcages".
Celebrating Canada's beautiful heritage, International Art Treasures is delighted to honor Victoria, British Columbia as the North American City of Culture, 2008!