Kaitlin

I don't know if this is genuine sentiment, cynical marketing, or public art. Snapped this poster at the corner of Granville Street and Robson Street this afternoon, on a rare sunny winter day. The word "Williamsburg" at the bottom of the poster makes me suspect hipster tomfoolery.

Post title from this song by Matthew Pfeifer.

Uncovering a Lie

Stumbled over what I thought was a manhole cover on Beatty Street near Robson Street, and then I noticed the words "Collected Memory Dispersed" in the glass centre. A bit of googling later, I discovered this is one of a four part public art project by Jill Anholt and Susan Ockwell called "Uncoverings" installed in 1998.

Post title from this song by Iris Aneas.

The Last Marathon of Terry Fox

 

A while back I wrote about activating my mental detonator every time I walked past the Terry Fox memorial adjacent to BC Place. I know I wasn't alone, because recently the eyesore that was there has been replaced, and I have to say I like the new one much better. It was designed by Douglas Coupland, and to me is much more representative of the man and what he stood for.

Post title from this song by Group of Seven.

Conspiracy Theory

While waiting for a friend on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery the other day, I grabbed this quick shot of what seems to be a permanent fixture (don't let the temporary set up fool you) on the plaza on the Robson Street side of the gallery. These guys are always there trying to convince passersby that 9/11 was an inside job. Although I will admit I haven't looked very closely at their literature and I've never visited their website, I'm not one for conspiracy theories. On my personal baloney meter, this group sits right about the same place as these guys.

Post title from this song by Steve Earle.

Mosaic

Another mosaic from my wanders-about-town. This one's at the corner of Robson Street and Burrard Street - one of the busiest intersections in downtown Vancouver. Which means I have walked past it a kajillion times and never noticed it before. It's part of this series, and is called Sounds Around Town.

Post title from
this song by Laurence Juber.

The Words Don't Fit the Picture

This large installation outside the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, called, obviously enough, "The Words Don't Fit the Picture" is by Ron Terada. It's a part of the city's Olympic public art project, like this piece on the opposite side of the main library building. It's meant to be evocative of Vancouver's neon sign history.

Post title from this Willie Nelson song.

Manhole (redux)

Another decorative manhole cover, also on Robson Street. COV at the bottom right is for, of course, City of Vancouver.

Post title from this song by Freddy King.

This post is the second of two posts for today. I'll be posting twice a day until I'm caught up from the days that were missed.

When I'm Cleaning Windows

Another photo from my wanderings around the Central Branch neighbourhood downtown, this one's the Westin Grand Hotel on Robson Street at Homer St. I liked the almost sinuous lines of the building's curves, with the tiny dangling window-washer to give it the human element.

Post title from this song by George Formby.

Hope

At the foot of Robson Street where it intersects with Beatty Street, on Terry Fox Plaza adjacent to BC Place, is one of the most phenomenally hideous monuments in Vancouver (or that I've seen anywhere, for that matter). In my opinion it demonstrates everything that was wrong with early 80s architecture and public art: pastel colours, incongrous building materials, classico-roman pretensions. According to www.vancouverhistory.ca, the design by Franklin Allen was chosen by a nine-person jury that included architect Arthur Erickson, and generated considerable negative public reaction upon its unveiling in 1984. I personally activate a mental detonator every time I pass by.

Having said that, the man the monument and the plaza are dedicated to, Terry Fox, is a Canadian national hero. His Marathon of Hope inspired a nation and raised millions of dollars for cancer research. Annual runs in his name continue to raise money every year (to date $500 million) in dozens of countries around the world. Terry's mother, Betty Fox, was one of the Olympic flag-bearers at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies here in Vancouver, and she and Terry's father, Rolly, participated in the lighting of the torch at the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies, which also featured a video tribute to Terry himself. I cannot see the iconic image of Terry Fox running on his artificial leg without wiping instant tears from my eyes.

Post title from this song by Jack Johnson.

Manhole

Most manhole covers I've come across on Vancouver streets are pretty dull; just a metal grid within a round frame. But lately, as I've been paying more attention, I've noticed that there are some that are quite decorative. Snapped this quick picture today in the middle of an intersection on Robson Street. Had to point, click, and get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Nothing like a little dodge-the-bus to get your heart rate going in the morning!


Post title from this song by Ani Difranco.

Not a beautiful picture, but a pretty good representation of my day today. Business meetings over coffee in the downtown core for much of the day, my trusty battered reusable cup by my side and my office-in-a-phone for emails, twitter, and the like. This snapshot was taken at a Starbucks at the corner of Robson and Thurlow in downtown Vancouver's shopping district. Starbucks in Vancouver is, like everywhere else, ubiquitous. What you can't tell from this picture is that the brick building across the street also houses a Starbucks. And they're both full, all the time. We do like our mass-produced coffee, it seems.