View walking to the museum
This is a fabulous museum, focusing on the Northwest Indian populations and their culture. The totem exhibits were wonderful, both inside the museum and out. The ones inside are very old, some the only surviving examples of a kind. Researchers are using infra red technology now to discern the colors that these old totems and other items once were painted.
Examples of masks and canoes
There is a whole gallery devoted to Bill Reid, a 20th century artist who produced beautiful pieces depicting the stories of the native people. He worked in several media including jewelry, wood and paint. Here is his most famous sculpture: The Raven and the First Men.
Another gallery had nothing but the works of another 20th century native artist, Doug Cranmer from Alert Bay, BC. Northwest Coast Kwakwaka’wakw art is known for its flamboyant, energetic, and colorful carving and painting. Doug was an early player in the global commercial art market, and one of the first Native artists in BC to own his own gallery. Here are a couple of examples of the large collection we saw. He apparently was a great teacher and inspired many others to participate in art.
Outside we saw recreated examples of the great houses of the Northwest Indians and we strolled around the grounds.
Then we walked over to the Niobe Memorial Garden. This is THE finest example of a serene Japanese Zen garden that we have ever seen. At every turn there was another beautiful view. Not a blade, leaf or stem was out of place.
We walked back across the UBC campus which is torn up at every turn, undergoing some kind of major change. Got on the crowded bus back to the Skytrain, got off at Yaletown and had dinner at a great restaurant, Rodney's Oyster House and ate -- guess what? Delicious!
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