410 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

The owner of a building bearing a well-known orca mural in downtown Victoria says the jury is out on whether it will be redone during a planned redevelopment of the building.

 

Robert Fung, president of the Vancouver-based Salient Group, said he is a lifelong fan of the artist known as Wyland, who painted the three-storey mural depicting the A5 orca pod on the Yates Block building’s northern façade nearly four decades ago.

 

The fate of the 1987 mural at 1244-1252 Wharf St. has been much-discussed ever since the American artist floated on social media last month the idea of restoring it.

“Wyland is pushing to have it done. We’ve been in communication for two years on it,” Fung said. “We have a process to go through with the city and redoing that mural is going to be subject to our heritage alteration plan.”

 

Nearly 37 years since the mural was dedicated by Salt Spring Island artist Robert Bateman, it’s showing signs of fading.

 

 

https://www.timescol...roposed-8286438

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 February 2024 - 03:36 AM.

[Mike K.]

The mastodon wood sculpture at Royal Bay has burned down.

[Nparker]

The mastodon wood sculpture at Royal Bay has burned down.

Spontaneously or was it arson?

[Mike K.]

Sounds like arson.

 

Also, Mastodon is where a lot of unhappy former Twittter/X users went to, so is there a political angle to this?

[JimV]

It seems like anything good will eventually be destroyed by a vandal (mammoth,  Cap. cook, Queen Elizabeth, JAM.)   Any hideous crap will be left forever (day is for sleeping, arena trash can/ phone booth.)  So I wouldn’t object if we just gave up on this public art idea altogether.

[Victoria Watcher]

Oak Bay’s newest resident is creating a buzz at Causton’s Green park off Hampshire Road.

 

Sitting on a toilet, he’s got a cigarette in his mouth and is staring at a smartphone.

 

Reminiscent of Rodin’s The Thinker, but fashioned from recycled stainless steel cookware, Modern Man Does Research is a 2023 collaboration by two B.C. artists, conceptualized by Burnaby’s Ronald Victor Simmer and constructed by Vancouver’s Ezra Larsen.

 

Rocking flashy kicks and shiny shades, it’s one of nine sculptures scattered around Oak Bay as part of the district’s Arts Alive program, which is in its ninth year.

 

Arts Alive works are loaned to the district for up to a year. Between June and November, the public can vote for their favourite, with the top three considered for purchase by the municipality.

 

Posters in Oak Bay social-media forums shared their thoughts on Modern Man online. “The tin man has come a long way,” one user said.

 

 

 

“I love this. What a commentary on the ‘I did my own research’ phenomenon that plagues modern society.”

 

“I walk by it every day and cringe. Toilet humour as public art is not my thing,” said another.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ak-bay-10790712

[dasmo]

Ya, don’t read and educate yourself…. Just do and believe what you’re told. Funny sculpture but stupid message. Better if it was titled “The modern journalist.”

Edited by dasmo, 11 June 2025 - 08:51 AM.

[Mike K.]

Those boots look like they’re from the Bay.

[dasmo]

Those boots look like they’re from the Bay.

Ya, They could have sculpted feet in the same style. The boots bring the entire piece down. 

[mbjj]

I would call that a comment on how the Greater Victoria Public Library has gone down the toilet in terms of its service and its collection. It has become a huge disappointment. 

[Mike K.]

It’s crass.

Artists might claim there’s something meaningful going on there, but it’s just a giant troll. The municipality shouldn’t accept something like that on its street, just because it’s art.