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Monday, March 8, 2010

Visual Art Seattle Art Versus Vancouver Art: Discuss

Posted by Jen Graves on Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 2:10 PM

A while back I wrote something that made people argue. It was called "The Vancouver Problem"—the title being a throwback to the days when men would go around saying there was a "Woman Problem" or whites would call the fight for civil rights the "Race Problem."

In this case, I claimed, Seattle had a Vancouver problem, and it was basically that Vancouver art is better than Seattle art.

You can see why people argued.

Tonight at 7 pm at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma we're going to continue the argument, but my voice will just be one among several.

There's Seattle artist Matthew Offenbacher, Tacoma Art Museum curator Rock Hushka, Vancouver artist-curator Jonathan Middleton, Vancouver curator Scott Watson, and the event is organized by Tacoma-based artist Elise Richman.

Are the differences about funding or logistics, or are they more fundamental than that? Is there anything to be learned? What's the role of the recent BC funding cuts going to be in affecting not only Vancouver but all of us in the Northwest?

I'm planning to stay pretty quiet, unlike usual. I want to hear what everyone else has to say.

Comments (12) RSS

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This is a dumb argument.

Posted by whywhy on March 8, 2010 at 2:17 PM

This is an idiotic argument.

Posted by Dumbtime on March 8, 2010 at 2:21 PM

I want to know why apples are better than oranges.

Posted by tunaprinden on March 8, 2010 at 2:26 PM

If the "How Soon is Now" (which I saw a few days before the feature was written) exhibit really represents the future of art, and if that's really what you we should expect to get when artists are funded by the government rather than by people actually buying their artwork, then I will be thrilled for Seattle to "fall behind" in the art world.

Posted by Sean P. on March 8, 2010 at 2:29 PM

If I'm going to drive to Vancouver to see some art, I might as well drive another ten minutes and go across the bridge to Portland.

Posted by tiktok on March 8, 2010 at 2:37 PM

I think I missed this argument previously but interested to see by what sort of logic you justified it. I am perpetually unfavorably comparing the cultural scene in Vancouver to Seattle. Just got back from there and saw nothing that remotely challenged that opinion. So the VAG is better than SAM, sure enough (but then again that might be because SAM is inexcusably curatorially aimless and unadventurous for a museum of its size). We also happen to have two other excellent art museums. What does Vancouver have to match the Henry and the Frye? If Vancouver has anywhere near as many decent contemporary art galleries as this city they must be extremely well hidden because I have never found them. Canada has many things going for it but cultural innovation is not one of those things. I usually offer Vancouver as exhibit A when making that argument.

Posted by Rhizome on March 8, 2010 at 3:02 PM

It's more about people - artists - here having way too big egos, actually.

And the whiny terrorist Tea Baggers who hate American art and love destroying our Government.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on March 8, 2010 at 3:09 PM

I guess folks just don't want the 50% marginal tax rates Canadians enjoy....not.

Posted by Asian1981 on March 8, 2010 at 3:41 PM

Let's put it this way. Both Seattle's and Vancouver's art leves a bit to be desired.

Posted by Spicy McHaggis on March 8, 2010 at 4:14 PM

Hey Rhizome, Vancouver galleries are hard to stumble across, except somewhat around Gastown. Next time you're looking around, check out commercial galleries Catriona Jeffries, Blanket, Monte Clark, and Republic, and nonprofit galleries Artspeak, Western Front, Or Gallery, Charles H. Scott, Presentation House, Audain Gallery, Belkin Gallery, Rennie Collection, and Contemporary Art Gallery. It won't stink.

Posted by Eric F on March 8, 2010 at 4:36 PM

@8 - at the end of the day, unless you're a millionaire, when you take health care costs and other things into account, it's pretty similar for Canadians and Americans. Except artists do better in their system, usually.

I always liked the local art places in New West and North Vancouver, but there are some interesting ones on Commercial and near UBC too.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on March 8, 2010 at 4:59 PM

@10 not contending that any of those you list stink. I have been to a few of them. Mostly I go on the listings in the Georgia Straight when visiting which I'm sure is not as comprehensive as The Stranger is down here. Still don't think there is as much art going on in Vancouver as in Seattle. Inclined to agree with @9 that neither city's art scene is especially fabulous but then again compared to what?

Posted by Rhizome on March 8, 2010 at 5:15 PM