Designing
a Modern Identity
The New
Spirit of British Columbia, 1945-60
June 8
- September 9, 2001
Entrance
to Design in Industry, Ottawa, showing Mouldcraft Plywoods'
armchair. October 1946.
Photographer:
Jack Long, National Film Board; National Archives of Canada.
The
Kelowna Art Gallery is proud to present Designing a Modern
Identity, The New Spirit of British Columbia, 1945-60, an
exhibition which spotlights the new spirit of modernity as it existed in
the middle of the last century.
The
modern period in British Columbia captured the imaginations of Canadians
from coast-to-coast. Unlike
eastern and central Canada, British Columbia was seen as being free from
the weight of Canadian history. Vancouver
became the beacon of modernism in Canada, and Vancouver’s beacon was
the British Columbia Electric Company’s headquarters on Burrard
Street. This building not
only demonstrated the quality of BC architects’ work, it also
incorporated mosaics designed by Vancouver artist B.C. Binning.
This interaction of art and architecture was only one example of
an ongoing discourse amongst artists, architects, designers and
craftspeople in Vancouver, and throughout the province.
Designing
a Modern Identity
examines a number of exhibitions that blended various art practices in a
desire to create a modern and equitable society.
The products displayed in these exhibitions – whether they were
chairs, vases, houses or paintings – were made in order to provide the
people of British Columbia with access to items that they had been
denied during the Depression and the war years.
Not
only did the exhibitions raise awareness in British Columbia, they also
gained the attention of those in the east.
In 1955, Robert H. Hubbard of the National Gallery stated that,
“Now that the Montreal school is in temporary abeyance … the
leadership has been assumed by Vancouver where a whole group of
interesting painters is now active – to say nothing of the
architects.” Two years
later, the Gallery’s director commented that, “There are more good
artists per square mile in BC than in all the rest of the country.”
Included
in this exhibition is furniture, ceramics and paintings along with
photographs and text panels. The exhibition is comprised of objects
drawn from private and public collections in Victoria and Vancouver. The
exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue publication.
This
exhibition is curated by Alan C. Elder of Ottawa. Apart from his
curatorial experience in 20th century design -- as curator
for the Burlington Cultural Centre (Ontario) and the Ontario Crafts
Council – Elder has done considerable research in the area of “BC
Modern” for his MA, completed at the University
of British Columbia.
A 'good
use' of well-designed furnishings, Ottawa, January 1951.
Photographer:
Chris Lund, National Film Board; National Archives of Canada.
Installation
Photos
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