Tag Archives: Vancouver

Elyse Dodge’s Imaginative Geometric Landscapes

May 27, 2018 By in Art, British Columbia Tags: , , , , , , , 38 Comments

Elyse Dodge, “The Stawamus Chief”

 

When I first came across the geometric landscape paintings of Vancouver’s Elyse Dodge, the towering mountain images composed of colorful polygons brought to mind The Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.  That song’s not-so-veiled allusions to psychedelic and kaleidoscopic visions seems fitting for the vibrant playfulness exhibited in Dodge’s art.

In an artist statement, she notes that her “work aims to capture the vibrant beauty of the landscapes that we call home.  . . . The contrast between the crisp geometric lines of the mountains and organic textures of the trees has become my signature aesthetic. The polygonal shapes transform the peaks from being something that is recognizable as a mountain to a faceted, diamond-like form. These surreal scenes encourage the mind to imagine what an alternate and more vivid world could look like.”

Dodge’s work as a professional illustrator (you gotta pay the bills!) and the techniques she borrows from that undoubtedly informs her expressions as a fine artist and her deft manipulations of the iconic landscape of western Canada.

I love the compositional aesthetic of Dodge’s art, but even more I appreciate the deeper ideas about perception that she explores through her paintings.  Her work is a wonderful example of how a talented artist can use her art to challenge us to see our world in a different way and conceive of possibilities we might not have considered otherwise.

Her artist site here provides more insight into and examples of her art and links to some lovely video interviews and profiles.  Vancouver’s terrific Ian Tan Gallery also showcases Dodge’s work.

Elyse Dodge, “Vermillion Lakes”

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Elyse Dodge, “Squamish”

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Elyse Dodge, “Elfin Lakes”

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Elyse Dodge, “Cleveland Dam”

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Elyse Dodge, “Emergence”

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Elyse Dodge, “Vermillion Reflections”

 

(Image Credits: Elyse Dodge)

Similar Posts on O’Canada:

→  Cameron Steven’s Vintage Style Canada Parks Posters

→  Amazing Landscape Artistry of Philip Buytendorp, Jennifer Woodburn and Steve Coffey

→ David Pirrie: Mapping Western Terrains and Our Sense of Place

Fred Herzog’s Vintage Vancouver

December 17, 2017 By in Art, British Columbia, History, Photography Tags: , , , , , , , 77 Comments

Fred Herzog, Bogner’s Grocery (1960)

I’ve seen the street photography of Fred Herzog previously but a brief essay by Geoff Dyer in today’s New York Times Magazine prompted me to look anew at Herzog’s work.  Herzog came to Canada in the early 1950s from Germany and from the late 1950s through the 1960s pioneered color street photography in his adopted city of Vancouver.  His candid shots provide a splendid if unvarnished documentary of the city and its people during that period.  The vintage images also subtly illustrate many things that have changed in Vancouver and other urban areas throughout Canada (and America) in the past several decades.

More of Herzog’s work can be seen at Vancouver’s Equinox Gallery and on its website.

Fred Herzog, 2nd Hand Store Boy (1959)

 

Fred Herzog, Alexander Street (1967)

 

Fred Herzog, Granville Street from Granville Bridge (1966)

 

Fred Herzog, Granville/Robson (1959)

 

Fred Herzog, White Lunch Granville (1959)

 

Photo Credits:  Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery

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⊕  Vintage / Mod Design: The City Bus

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Vintage Tools From 1912 Hardware Catalogue

August 27, 2017 By in British Columbia, Business, History Tags: , , , , , , , , , 40 Comments

Wrenches2

Because I love doing projects that involve hand tools I probably have way more than any reasonable person should have.  But if you work enough with your hands you know that the right tool makes all the difference.  Traditional hardware stores are now a dying breed of retail but back in the day they were the one-stop shop for most tool needs. The McLennan, McFeely & Co. Hardware Store opened in Vancouver in 1885 and for many years was a substantial business enterprise.

These pages are from that merchant’s 1912 catalogue.  Among the wrenches above, the crescent adjustable wrench must have made quite a splash because it was only first introduced around 1907 and to this day is a standard in any well-equipped tool box. Though less common nowadays, variations of the hand drills pictured below can still be found today and are quite useful.

The City of Vancouver Archives has digitized some of the old McLennan, McFeely catalogues, and flipping through the pages makes for an interesting diversion as you ponder how much more laborious it was to do various chores over a century ago.

Hand Drills

Simple Beauty in Stanley Park

June 7, 2014 By in Art, British Columbia Tags: , , , , , , 21 Comments

Blades of Grass, Stanley Park

Along the Seawall, Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.

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“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.”
                                                                                  ~ Walt Whitman

Old Maps and Their Hidden Stories

May 17, 2014 By in Alberta, Art, British Columbia, History, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec Tags: , , , , , , , , 36 Comments

Nova Canadae 1693

Nova Canadae (1693)

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Good historical maps combine science and art to guide its users through its subject geography, with the best such maps igniting the imagination about the many backstories underpinning its cartographical offerings. Some of the oldest maps of North America include parts of Canada, which then featured place names such Terra Nova (now Newfoundland), Nouvelle France (most of what is now Eastern Canada), and Acadie (now Nova Scotia).  The following collection showcases some interesting old maps of Canada I’ve come across.

British America (1841)
Alberta (1944)
Dominion of Canada with Newfoundland (1920)
East Canada (1851)
Manitoba (1891)
Gulf of St. Lawrence (1760)
Upper Canada (1855)
Vancouver (1898)
Isles of Montreal (ca. 1800)
Literary Map of Canada (1936)

Related Posts on O’Canada:

— 1933 Quebec Tourist Road Map

Stanley Park — Non-Traditional Views

October 25, 2013 By in Art, British Columbia Tags: , , , , , , , , 35 Comments
Blades of Grass, Stanley Park

Blades of Grass, Stanley Park

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Many photos from Vancouver’s Stanley Park are of the more traditional sights there, such as the native American totem poles about which I posted earlier.  I certainly have taken my share of those but I also like less customary images of off-the-beaten-track details from a location such as Stanley Park.   These images I captured from the Park are examples of ordinary details that convey a different sort of majesty for that place.

Weathered Mooring, Stanley Park

Weathered Mooring, Stanley Park

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Bush and Rock Minimalism, Stanley Park

Bush and Rock Minimalism, Stanley Park

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Along the Seawall, Stanley Park

Along the Seawall, Stanley Park

Stanley Park Totem Poles

September 14, 2013 By in Art, British Columbia, History Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 24 Comments
Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Stanley Park is a beautiful, peaceful greenspace on a sprawling peninsula in the heart of bustling Vancouver.  The Park’s collection of native American totem poles is eye-catching and conjures marvelment and reverence at the creativity of the people of the Pacific Northwest that made these exquisite carvings.

In these photos from a trip there not long ago it was challenging to separate the poles from the surrounding trees so these don’t do justice to the majesty of these enduring artifacts.

Sky Chief Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Sky Chief Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Oscar Maltipi Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Close Up, KAKASO’LAS Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Close Up, Thunderbird House Totem Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver
KAKASO’LAS Pole (in foreground), Stanley Park, Vancouver
Thunderbird House Totem Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Close Up, Chief Wakas Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Here Comes the Winter Olympics

February 12, 2010 By in British Columbia, Sports Tags: , Leave a comment

For the second time, Canada is set to host the Winter Olympics (the first being in Calgary in 1988).  Here in Atlanta, where I now live, we hosted the Summer Olympics in 1996 and I recall the city was abuzz about the preparations and anticipation of having the event come together and being the focal point for so much of the world’s sports attention.  I’ve no doubt that Vancouver — what an amazing place! — will acquit itself well and that the planners and the city itself will all breathe a collective sigh of exhilaration and relief and deserve a well-earned pat on the back as the games draw to a close in about two weeks time.  Good luck to the athletes — and godspeed Vancouver!

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