Adventure - Ottawa - National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Art begins by being the most amazing architecture. Public architecture is considered the people’s art as it is accessible to all whereas sculptures and paintings can be squirreled away in private homes. If the building was empty of art it would be worth it just to see and be in its presence. It’s truly a modern day cathedral of light and granite. The Scotia bank Great Hall is a work of wonderful 

Moshe Safdie born in Haifa, emigrated to Canada in 1953 and received an architectural degree from Montreal’s McGill University.  His firm’s  Habitat 67 was Canada’s key contribution to the world fair, Expo 67.  I remember it with the amazement of a teenager and today, much older ,realize how so many ideas of the t design became common place in the modern world.  While the National Art Gallery of Canada was established in 1880 the present incredible complex on Sussex Drive designed  by Moshe Safdie  opened 1988

The distinctive Maman sculpture created by French American artist in 1991 was acquired in 2005. An arachnid tribute to her mother the Artists work certainly brings instant attention to the National Gallery. 

I age myself with my love of music either Classical or from the era of my youth, 60’s, 60’s, 80’s.  Similarly I love Impressionism  which , despite being a hundred years old at the time, was so avante garde in my College years. Then I had posters of Renoir and Picasso on the walls of my basement rooms with the shared washroom down the hall.  Now I’ve enjoyed seeing the Impressionist exhibits at the  Musee d’Orsay, the Met, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere. I like the modernists as well and when last I was at the National Gallery 4 years ago loved that they had a picture of the Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali. I like little rap music despite appreciating some poetry.

I also love the early European art in which perspective was being developed before and during the Ressansance. I was disappointed by the examples on exhibit.  I especially enjoy the depictions of the Mother and Child often amused at the facial expression of the baby Jesus.  

I also loved the National for the particularly Canadian exhibits.  I especially loved the historical painting from the Plains of Abraham reminiscent of similar works in the Louvre when art preceded photo and served political and historical functions. 

I love the Group of Seven. As a canoeist, hunter, fisherman I have so enjoyed seeing their works depict the very wilderness I revel in. 

There was a fairly remarkable representative of indigenous art,some pieces, clearly unique anthropologically and truly remarkable.

There were modern and contemporary exhibits, some of which will no doubt last the test of time but few have captured my interest except in passing.  I suspect the curators have chosen works as well as they have in areas which I know. Seeing the students on tour I was hopeful for the future. What an incredible educations!

I really loved the sound and visual exhibit offered in the chapel. 

There were also many sculptures , silver works and gold but today I was interested in the paintings.




Each time I’ve come and this may be my fourth or fifth. I’ve just been overwhelmed by the offerings. It’s not  huge like the Met or British Museum but one could return day after day and see and learn so much. I envy my family who live here. Even the cafe was a delight.  The Art Gallery serves many functions and the architecture made way for that. 

Vancouver’s art gallery is best for visitting works and the Emily Carr, the cafe and gift shop.  But it really needs to expand.  Public works such as this are so important. 

If I had one criticism it would be the sparse representation of the greatest art of Western Canada, the prairie landscape, Louis Riel statuses  of Manitoba, the contemporary industrial  works of Alberta, their oil fields and ranching, the fisheries and sailors of the northern pacific seas, or the LGBT art of Vancouver’s inner city.. It’s not an original concern as the narcissism of the art exhibitors has always suffered from cronyism at the centres of political power. It was most amusingly demonstrated when someone noted that almost all the saints of the Roman Catholic Church through Italy were Italian.  Apparently even God is reduced by tribalism and regionalism.  

That said, I love the National Art Gallery of Ottawa and look forward to returning. I’d recommend this truly amazing artistic space to any and all.