West Coast Modern Week announces 2023 program, from architectural tours to live music
The celebration of West Coast Modernism also features exhibitions, parties, lectures, and more
Paul Merrick (Architect, 2022), Sewell’s Landing, Photo by Ema Peter
West Vancouver Art Museum presents West Coast Modern Week from July 4 to 9 at various venues
WEST COAST MODERNISM has its roots in West Vancouver, with its spectacular mountains-meet-sea-surrounded-by-rainforest surroundings. To celebrate this distinct architectural style, West Vancouver Art Museum has a wide range of programming lined up for the 2023 West Coast Modern Week taking place July 4 to 9.
It all kicks off with West Coast Modern and Desert Modern: Architects Attuned to Nature Annual Barry Downs Lecture Series on July 4 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Kay Meek Arts Centre (cost: $12 to $15). Sidney Williams—who was director of education and public programs before becoming curator of architecture and design at the Palm Springs Art Museum from 2003 to 2016—will look at architects’ own homes on the West Coast and in the California desert to see how they went about designing residences in such diverse natural environments.
RESTOMODERN is a free panel discussion with the West Coast Modern League on July 5 from 7 to 9 pm at The Polygon Gallery. The conversation pertains to the architectural interpretation of the concept of RESTOMOD (restoration/modification) originating from the classic-car world. The session features leading local designers who will speak to innovative architectural restomods as well as significant modern homes in the region.
West Coast Modern Week Concert: Itamar Erez Quartet is a free performance on July 6 (from 5 to 6:15 pm) at West Vancouver Memorial Library. The Itamar Erez Quartet combines delicate Middle Eastern music with the freedom found in jazz and will present a bossa nova-inspired evening of summer music on the library’s rooftop stage. Joining Erez, who plays guitar, are Jeff Gammon (bass), Sam Davidson (clarinet), and Kevin Romain (drums).
Arthur Mudry (architect, 1989), Chun residence. Photo by Oleg Solodchenko
Modern Gems of Ambleside West Coast Modern Week’s Inaugural Walking Tour series happens July 4 from 1 to 3 pm; July 5 from 11 am to 1 pm; and July 6 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm ($20). Each two-hour tour is led by an experienced guide and makes its way around the Ambleside waterfront, taking in fascinating mid-century apartment buildings. While observing the elements and features of the mid-century modern style, the walkabout will look at how the hallmarks of this iconic style were uniquely incorporated into West Coast architecture.
On July 8, it’s the 17th Annual West Coast Modern Home Tour with Modern Tea Party. The tour runs from 12 to 4 pm; the Modern Tea Party is from 4 to 6 pm in the garden at the West Vancouver Art Museum ($135 to $150). Participants get to visit five West Vancouver homes during the afternoon, either via a minibus or by self-driving. (The homes are not physically accessible and may present challenges for individuals who have limitations in movement or mobility.) The event is an annual tradition: ever since the first West Coast Modern Home Tour in 2006, the organization has been to more than 60 architectural gems, both original mid-century and contemporary architect-designed homes in West Vancouver.
Finally, the week wraps with Deconstructing a Boat with Sara Graham up on July 9 from 11 am to 2 pm at Museum of North Vancouver (MONOVA) (cost is included with admission). The museum has invited visual artist Sara Graham to lead a family-friendly workshop, with Deconstructing a Boat being inspired by Frank Gehry, who used an origami technique in the past as an inspiration for his designs.
Furthermore, there are two concurrent exhibitions at West Vancouver Art Museum that coincide with West Coast Modern Week.
Now running through to July 31 is The Bricktacular West Coast Modern Show: Paul Hetherington. The artist has re-created West Coast Modern buildings out of LEGO, incorporating their surrounding landscapes, furniture, and even artwork.
Order from Chaos: Jane Adams and B.C. Binning runs from June 21 to September 23. Adams is the daughter of Jean Coulthard, the Canadian composer, and Don Adams, who used to run a modern Scandinavian furniture store in Vancouver. The Adams’ were close friends with B.C. Binning and his wife, Jessie; as a child, Adams visited Binning’s studio regularly and became familiar with his paintings and designs. As she developed her own artistic practice, she came to recognize the impact of this incredible early influence. The exhibition includes works by Binning from West Vancouver Art Museum collection.
More information can be found at https://westvancouverartmuseum.ca/west-coast-modern-week.
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