Saturday, April 17, 2010

Vancouver Art of the 1960s






Via Ruins In Process, an archive of 1960s Vancouver art and counterculture. What an amazing resource. There's rich evidence here of what state-funded art can accomplish (and it's worth noting in this regard that arts funding in British Columbia will be cut by fully 90% in the next few years, even as the unconscionably expensive opening/closing ceremonies of the Olympics paid lip service to regional arts and culture). Page after page of mindblowing images from the various exhibitions, workshops, poetry readings, and mixed media happenings staged (mostly) by the Intermedia collective -- the hub of the Vancouver art community at the time. There are great photos and pamphlets from geodesic dome projects and improvised "motion study" live dance performances, as well as an excellent film section. I think my favorite is a short piece called "Know Place" -- although the title of another, "The Be In," perhaps best captures the mood. Also some great hippie concrete improvisations in the audio section. Very inspiring.

I'll have some music (libraries, English weirdness, etc.) to post soon. I think. I have no idea what direction this blog is heading in.

5 comments:

  1. That Buckminster Fuller dome is one of the greatest structures I've ever seen in my life. Makes me think of 'Silent Running'.

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  2. Another brillaint post. You've probably seen this http://www.spacedoutthebook.net, some nice domes in there.

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  4. I haven't heard of the Spaced Out book but it looks great. The more I read about "The Dome Show" the more I want to build one. If you dig in the website a bit, you can find a poster advertising a music and light show featuring Painted Ship!

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