Blockbusters the trend at VAG through the '00s

Reduced government contributions sent galleries looking for alternate ways of boosting revenues in the '00s and what worked in Vancouver has been the blockbuster show.

A 2002 show featuring Emily Carr, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe was highly successful and led to more shows in a similar vein.

Dali, Monet and other modernists were the headliners in '07, setting the VAG's all-time record of 7,600 visitors in one day, and this past year featured appearances by Vermeer and Rembrandt.


Pine on the corner, by Jeff Wall, 1990

Vancouver artists did attract some international attention as well. Jeff Wall, Ken Lum, Rodney Graham, Ian Wallace, Roy Arden, Stan Douglas and Brian Jungen were among the many artists from Vancouver who were part of major exhibitions in private galleries and public institutions around the world during the decade.

The other phenomenon of the decade in Canadian Art, from the Vancouver perspective, has been the ascent of local auctioneers Robert Heffel and brother David. They have auctions in both Vancouver and Toronto and hold the record for sales at auction, $23 million which was set in May 2007.

(based on an article by Keven Griffin in the Vancouver Sun)

Surprise, surprise - Canada's artists completely ignored in Times ratings

Not exactly the most up-to-date report in the world of art news, as this came out back in June. Worth mentioning though due to its pertinence for the subject of this blog. Again, a very depressing (if predictable) result for Canadian art. At the same time, maybe it will be useful in some small way for inciting our art establishment to some kind of more effective action than the status quo has been.

The results of the Times Top 200 Artists of the 20th Century to Now survey were announced June 8, 2009. The Times Online poll was taken in conjunction with Saatchi Online and all artists received over 1.4 million votes.

Riopelle doesn't even make the list

In this entire list of 200 artists, there is only one Canadian to my knowledge - that is Jeff Wall, in 116th place. No Riopelle, no Carr, no Jackson, and none of the ~below~. Admittedly, I'm not sure what the methodology of this survey was. There must have been a list that you could pick from - so how many Canadians were on that, I do not know. Anyway, the end result is yet another slap in the face for Canadian art.

The very existence of this list now goes on to further perpetuate the fallacy that Canadian art has no place on the world stage. The work of all Canadian artists is devalued and the way ahead for future artists wishing to climb the rungs of recognition is made that much more difficult.