CROSS COUNTRY TRIP 2010 - Vancouver

You can see the influences of Britain in British Columbia - the architecture and offerings of afternoon teas (or anytime for that matter).  We made a beeline to the Museum of Anthropologie, located at The University of BC.  The Museum, a Barbie "find", was breathtaking from the moment we entered.  It has to have one of the most extensive collections of contemporary North West Coast art from the "First Nation" people.  In USA, we would call them American Indians.  Really, it took our breath away.  Here are some photos:

This next piece by Bill Reid, of the Haida tribe, was inspired by a miniature of the same he carved.  A collector saw it and commissioned Reid to make this showstopper, which was then donated and is now showcased in its own rotunda in the Museum of Anthropologie.  It is called: The Raven and the First Men". The legend has it that the Raven discovered the first men in a clamshell on a beach in BC.  The piece was unveiled in 1980 by Prince Charles.

The NW Coast art is magnificent, whether is is painted in the tribe's colors, or left unpainted in its natural state of red or yellow cedar.


The terrain was breathtaking as we left by ferry to Vancouver Island, passing through the San Juan Islands - what a beautiful ride! 

Our RV Park was in the town of West Bay, a suburb of Victoria.  This was the view from our front window at our site:

And a view of a sea plane taking off, in front of us!  Click the arrow below the picture:

On the recommendation from the Curator of MOA, we drove north of Victoria, to a few small towns on Vancouver Island where we could find other remote galleries with First Nation artwork, but after spending most of the day exploring, we all agreed that the city of Victoria had what we liked best.
Here's a piece that will find its way to 18 Black Swan Court - It's called Breaching Whale:

And The Moon Mask:

This is a young First Nation Artist at work in the gallery.  Click the arrow below the picture for a short video:

And here are some of his finished pieces:

Here are some sights in and around Vancouver:

I guess this hot dog stand caters to the many Japanese residents:

Now here's a sight you won't see very often: 

A dog wearing goggles, riding on a motorcycle!