Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver) facts for kids
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | Yaletown in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Type | Art gallery |
The Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) is a special place in downtown Vancouver, Canada, where you can see amazing modern art. It's a non-profit gallery, which means it's not trying to make money, but rather to share art with everyone. The CAG shows art from artists in Vancouver, across Canada, and from around the world. It often highlights new and exciting local artists who are creating Canadian contemporary art.
Many famous Vancouver artists have shown their work here, like Stan Douglas and Rodney Graham. The gallery also features international artists and offers free admission to everyone who visits.
History of the Gallery
The Contemporary Art Gallery started in 1971. It was first called the Greater Vancouver Artist's Gallery. It began as a project by the City of Vancouver to help local artists. Artists were hired to create art for exhibitions and for the city's own art collection.
In 1976, the CAG became a registered charity. This meant it was officially a non-profit group. In 1984, it became an artist-run centre. This means artists themselves had a big say in how the gallery was run. The CAG became well-known for giving many now-famous Vancouver artists their first solo shows.
By the early 1990s, the gallery started showing art from artists across Canada and from other countries. In 1996, the CAG changed again. It became an independent public art gallery. This helped it show a wider range of modern art. It was a bridge between small, experimental art spaces and larger, more general museums. In May 2001, the Contemporary Art Gallery moved to a brand new building designed just for it.
In 2006, a Vancouver artist named Christian Kliegel had an exhibit called "Production Postings." He displayed hundreds of signs that film and TV crews use to guide people to filming spots. These bright signs are a common sight in Vancouver. Some film companies thought these signs were stolen. The police were called, and the gallery had to take down some of the signs. They replaced them with photocopies.
Kliegel said that movie companies often "steal" locations. They film in Vancouver but make it look like another city. Christina Ritchie, who was the gallery's Director, wrote a letter about the situation. She said it was "sad and disappointing" that the companies didn't appreciate Kliegel's unique view of Vancouver.
The Gallery Building
The Contemporary Art Gallery is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. You can find it on the ground floor of a residential building at 555 Nelson Street. This is right on the edge of the Yaletown neighborhood. The building was designed in 2001 by Martin Lewis and Noel Best Architect.
The gallery has two main exhibition spaces. The B.C. Binning Gallery is about 1040 square feet. The Alvin Balkind Gallery is about 676 square feet. There are also special window displays on the outside of the building. These windows offer another way to show art to people passing by.
Near the entrance, there's a reception area and a reading room. Here, visitors can find information about current and past art shows. The Abraham Rogatnick Library is on the second floor. It's open to the public if you make an appointment. The building won an important architectural award in 2002. The Contemporary Art Gallery is located on the traditional lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Gallery Programs
The Contemporary Art Gallery offers different programs to share art with more people. In 2018, the gallery started a five-year project. They began curating art for the London Canada Gallery. This gallery is located at the Canadian High Commission in London, England.
In 2019, the CAG launched a program called How far do you travel?. This exciting program places contemporary art on the sides of Vancouver Translink buses. This way, art can be seen by many people as they travel around the city.
Notable Publications
- Christopher Williams: Archäologie Beaux Arts Ethnography Théâtre-Vérité by Claudia Beck and John Miller. Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, 2005. (ISBN: 0-920751-96-2)
See also
In Spanish: Galería de Arte Contemporáneo (Vancouver) para niños
- Canadian contemporary art
- Vancouver School
- Centre A
- Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Western Front Society
