Vancouver Art Gallery FUSE, May 2009

The Vancouver Art Gallery held its reputable FUSE event on May 29th. This FUSE was many things and I think the Georgia Straight describes it quite succinctly.

An ironic karaoke lounge, a sample-looping cellist, and a retro hair salon: it must be time for the Vancouver Art Gallery’s FUSE event.

Eclectic? Always!

In particular, I enjoyed:

1. Ought Apartment—a set of installations of middle-class apartment rooms from the 1950s, 70s and 80s by Reece Terris.
2. Two Visions—collections of works by Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt.
3. Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art Masterpieces from The Rijksmuseum. Although, the artists’ fascination with skulls was bewildering, the camera obscura exhibit was well worth seeing.

And performances by:

1. House of La Douche—a 1980s throw-back dance group.
2. The attendants of the FUSE at the karaoke lounge.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is doing a fine job of making the traditional art gallery less austere and more accessible. While I feel the price tag is a little on the steep side to make for regular attendance, FUSE speaks to and feeds the simple-minded critic and the artist in me.

Related

• VAG goes Dutch for the summer
• Ought Apartment