Nov 2006–Jan 2007 - Preview

GALLERY VIEWSBY ANN ROSENBERGCENTRE A I’ve got my eye on you!Several months before Woodwards’ walls cametumbling down, Centre A (Vancouver’s InternationalCentre for Contemporary Asian Art) moved from anoffice building at 849 Howe Street in Vancouver’sbusiness district to the handsome 1912 edifice thatonce was the terminus for the trams that serviced thedowntown area. Like the Art Gym described in theprevious GALLERY VIEWS, the B.C. Electric CompanyHeadquarters offered good potential for becomingan important art and events venue.Its ground floor boasts 25-foot ceilings, cementfloors and a cluster of five metal supporting piers situatedaway from the walls to the left of the mainentrance. There are 5000 square feet of virtually clear Centre A, 8 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BCspace and some make-do lighting. Ironically, a singledesk lamp dimly illuminates the office in the depth of the cavernous room.Executive Director Hank Bull says approximately $50,000 must be raised to transform CentreA into a properly functioning space. He hopes that the premise the non-profit society now rents at8 West Hastings Street will soon be protected by a ‘bonused’ arrangement with the developer thatwould give the long-term stability necessary.Centre A is a stones throw away from the new Woodwards’ development which is designatedas a multipurpose complex (including social housing and high-end condos). The complex, situatedin Canada’s poorest, most drug-plagued neighbourhood will likely open in 20l0. Centre A isnow one of several, non-profit venues near to the Woodwards’ project that includes the longestablishedArtspeak, Gachet and Access galleries and is situated on the Carrall Street Corridormidway between the main tourist areas of Gastown and Chinatown.Centre A plans to coordinate programs with its neighbours’ offerings and it will continue tofulfill its mandate of showcasing contemporary Asian art. It also plans to include more FirstNations shows in its roster.The exhibitions will serve social, ethnic and cultural groups in this community which is in theprocess of social change. Germaine Koh’s installation 5,000 Beer Bottles and 30 Years of JapaneseVideo from Video In’s collection will follow the current exhibition, Joanne Staniskis’s Silk City.Ann Rosenberg is a freelance curator, critic and author.grunt gallery116-350 E 2nd Ave ✆604-875-9516www.grunt.bc.cawed-sat 12-6pm Thru Dec 2 FeliciaGay, Joi Arcand, Chrystal Kruszelnicki,“Give Her a Face”, photographyinstallation; Jan 5-Feb 10 Carol Itterwith performance Jan 5 at 8pm.Harrison Galleries901 Homer St ✆604-732-5217www.harrisongalleries.comdaily 10am-6pm Nov-Jan Contactthe gallery for exhibition information.★ Havana Gallery1212 Commercial Dr ✆604-253-9119www.havanarestaurant.camon-fri 11am-midnight sat-sun10am to midnight Thru Nov 18 GailTaylor, "Portraits of Nature", oil andacrylics on canvas; Nov 19-Dec 9Tony Bruno, "Impressions of Light",oil paintings on canvas; Dec 10-Jan 6,2007 Tawny Blythe Darbyshire,acrylic paintings on canvas; Jan 7-27Kathryn Brimacombe.Heffel Fine Art AuctionHouse2247 Granville St ✆604-732-6505800-528-9608 www.heffel.common-sat 10am-6pm Live AuctionNov 24 7pm in Toronto at the ParkHyatt Hotel, Fine Canadian Art. Montrealpreview Nov 9-11 11am-6pm;Toronto preview Nov 18-23 11am-6pm, Nov 24 10am-1pm; Nov 2-25Online Auction for Fine Canadian Art;Jan 4-27 Online Auction for FinePaintings, Watercolours, Prints,Drawings and Sculptures.Howe Street Gallery ofFine Art & The Soul ofAfrica Collection555 Howe St ✆604-681-5777www.howestreetgallery.common-sat 10am-6pm, sun 11am-6pmNov-Jan Howe Street Gallery proudlydisplays the work of severalacclaimed international artists includingProfessor You-Mee Park, therenowned Korean watercolourist and46 PREVIEW ★ OPEN LATE ON FIRST THURSDAYS