welcome to our
SATURDAY EVENING POST
November 30th, 2024
We just want to say how much we appreciate your passionate responses to our last Saturday Evening Post discussion on the state of Canadian art and its media representation. (If you missed it, please click here to read it.) Your insights do more than just validate the necessity of this dialogue; they enrich our understanding and broaden our perspective. There is so much for us to learn and to absorb from the public on issues that are crucial not only to our gallery but to the broader artistic landscape of British Columbia, Canada, and beyond. Your contributions, celebratory or critical, help shape our vision and inform our approach. Our Saturday Evening Post has been a vital platform for us to share our humble perspectives and engage with our community.
Forgive us for a lack of visuals this week, but we want to share some of the comments from last week, keeping most of these anonymous:
“Thank you for this letter. I am very moved and feel my eyes welling up. You can add young local musicians to your list who have gained international acclaim but never mentioned here in BC news media.”
“The cultural challenges that we in the arts continually face is relentless. And exhausting. Thank you, Paul, for continuing to be one of our longest and loudest advocates for the arts.”
“It is exceptionally articulated and thought provoking. The subject of promotion of the arts in Canada has been on my mind for some time and it is really appreciated to have read this week’s Evening Post regarding your outlook and interpretations!”
“You make a well-deserved point. But unfortunately, this has been the norm for well over a century. You can include James Wilson Morrice, among others. Well known in Paris and in Europe at the time. He was acknowledged by the French government as among the best painters at the time. Was in large part neglected by our government and country then. Only after his death did they bother to try to reclaim him as our own. Personally, I don’t see this trend breaking any time soon. We have this tendency to slink back into the shadows and we wonder why we lose our best elsewhere.”
James Wilson Morrice, Winter, Montreal (The Pink House), c. 1905-1907, oil on canvas, 61.3 x 50 cm. Gift of A.K. Prakash, J.W. Morrice Collection, 2015, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC
“I enjoy your Saturday evening Posts but your recent lament re under or non-recognized Canadian artists is not a new one. As you know art market is made up of many components and although you rightly place a lot of blame on the media and lack of coverage and knowledgeable criticism, this is just a small portion of what drives artists‘ success and value. You don’t discuss the interplay of either galleries, auction houses and curators.
A lot of art is promoted in the US which relates not to its merit but to its hype and the ability to commodify it. The duct taped banana you refer to is a fraud and demonstrates there are too many people with too much money able to shell it out indiscriminately. Why did the purchaser buy it? Because he could. Then of course there is the marketplace which in Canada really consists of a handful of serious, knowledgeable, well-heeled collectors. I doubt that more arts coverage and criticism would be more welcome, they alone will not resolve problem. It will require art dealers like you guiding the acquisitions by wealthy buyers.
Then of course there is the fact that Canada’s culture is very conservative thanks to its Presbyterian roots and its conservatism, it is evident in every aspect of Canadian Life, not only in the art world but in banking as well. So, I am afraid our local artists are stuck with a conservative culture that is not as avant-garde or commodified as the USA and those Canadian artists who make it across the border are not only good but connected.
Although there are thousands of museums in Europe and around the world, and hundreds in the States dedicated a single artist, there are only three or four in Canada. When I established the Bill Reid Museum of Art, I was told it had to be more inclusive because it was not ‘Canadian’ to celebrate a single artist. Hence the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest.”
“Throwing pearls before swine in a land of drawers of water and hewers of wood? You are absolutely correct, a thoughtful and provocative article well worth the read. The only argument I would offer is that regional artistic, intellectual and cultural differences across Canada significantly contribute to differentiate societal emphasis on artistic endeavour and its importance to being human.”
“Thank you for saying the truth about culture in this country! As an European till 2006 when I moved here I can tell you that it is depressing to see the attention and money invested in hockey and other forms of ‘easy’ entertainment. Give them bread (booze) and games and you can control them, right? I cannot go to Orpheum Theatre or QE because I am disgusted to see people in shorts and smelling like they had just finished The Grind…Desperation of these cultural institutions for money has made them lower their standards considerably…Thank you for the message! You have made my day!”
“You raise some great points here and I would love to read some opinions, other views on it. More people should be reading, talking about this. Have you thought about social media other than instagram? X, despite its failings and awful owner, just had lengthy conversations on the Jaguar rebrand and the VF article on Cormac McCarthy. You have to pay to post longer pieces, but it’s negligible. Bluesky is another if supporting Elon Musk is a bridge too far. At the very least, you should submit it to the G & M and the Vancouver Sun. I think they would love a way to fill some space without paying a cent.”
“But I have to ask: 'are any pure visual artists relevant anymore?’”
“I enjoy your weekly posts and this one addresses a problem which is increasingly acute. The wonderful Yosef Wosk is trying to make a difference. He established the Max Wyman Award for Critical Writing in order to encourage critical commentary. I have been working with Yosef and Max the past few years and have now honoured Dorothy Woodend of the Tyee, Robin Laurence, Scott Watson, Jerry Wasserman and Marsha Lederman with the Award. So much more needs to be done.”
These comments have made us think deeper about who and what we are as Canadians, and where we stand in the world. Max Wyman's latest book is a must read, titled "The Compassionate Imagination: How the Arts Are Central to a Functioning Democracy," is a profound exploration of the role of art and culture in contemporary democracy. This book advocates for what Wyman calls a new "Canadian Cultural Contract" that aims to re-humanize our way of living together. He taps into our inherent instincts for generosity and compassion, which he believes find their most compelling expressions through art.
Wyman's work is built on over fifty years of observing and participating in the growth of Canadian culture, and with this book, he proposes a radical reimagining of the ways in which art and culture can influence and enhance democratic life. His argument centres on recentring arts and culture within education and public policy to build a more vibrant and healthy society. His insights challenge us to consider the transformative power of art in shaping civic life and fostering a community ethos grounded in empathy and understanding.
"The Compassionate Imagination" is not only a call to action but a critical reflection on the potential of the arts to heal and unify in times of division and unrest. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, politics, and society.
“I imagine you’d be quite interested [in my book], given the passionate piece…on your blog, lamenting both our obstinate lack of acknowledgment of our artists and the virtual disappearance of any serious discussion of art of any kind in the media. These are both issues I address in the book and which I talk about often in public. They’re both rooted in fundamental social misunderstandings of the value of art and culture in society, the education system being just part of the problem (I propose in the book that we change STEM to STEAM by adding an A for art). It’s an immense topic that has been getting increased attention at many levels—even political: there’s a growing groundswell of activism—but I’m more and more convinced that it’s beyond time to go beyond talk and take action.”
We strongly support integrating the Arts into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines to create STEAM, a more holistic educational model. Research demonstrates that including arts in the curriculum boosts creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation.
Locally, Lord Byng Secondary is the only public school in the Lower Mainland that offers an arts program, and it has been facing gradual cutbacks for several years. The capacity of educators to mitigate these reductions is limited, and administrative staff often find their hands tied. The issue gained scant media attention last year when significant reductions were made to the arts cohorts at Lord Byng, leaving many prospective parents and students dismayed at the start of the academic year. This reflects a broader disinterest from municipal authorities and the school board, despite strong advocacy efforts by parents.
One must wonder whether increased media scrutiny and public pressure might compel the Vancouver School Board to reconsider the reductions to the school's arts programming. Would greater visibility and involvement in public discourse have altered the school's fate? What strategies must we, as parents and educators, employ to engage civic leaders and effect the necessary changes to safeguard the future of our young artists? This generational neglect poses a significant threat not just to individual aspirations but also to the cultural makeup of our nation.
As stewards of our cultural heritage, we must find effective avenues to articulate our concerns and advocate for our youth. What measures can we take to ensure we are better guardians of Canadian culture and its values? How can we preserve and nurture the dwindling vestiges of artistic programs in our educational system? These questions demand urgent contemplation and action to prevent a cultural erosion that could impoverish future generations.
Thank you to everyone who attended our inaugural film night. We were thrilled by the unexpectedly strong turnout and delighted to share Wim Wenders’ Anselm, one of our favourite films. We look forward to hosting more film nights and events that can bring our community together. Our shared passion for art strengthens our bonds, and supporting one another is essential to fostering growth and creativity within our community.
