Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

I was at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on Sunday to see an exhibition entitled "The Enduring Arts of China." It's an interesting exhibition and we were ably guided through it by one of the gallery's docents whose name I neglected to collect. I'll write more about the exhibition in a forthcoming post. Today's photos are of a Japanese Shinto Shrine that is located in a small garden at the rear of the Gallery. It is not a part the current exhibition but is permanently on display. The blurb below is from some information plaques in front of the shrine. Japanese Shinto Shrine (1899-1900) from Togo Village, Japan This village shrine represents a very fine example of Meiji era shrine carpentry. It is the work of a miydaiku or shrine carpenter who probably laboured for more than a year to complete it. The building has a copper-shingled gable roof, on a wooden structure which rests on a hand-hewn kamachi sandstone base. The elegant building fits together in a complex joinery of interlocking beams and posts. Made of keyaki, a dense hardwood, the shrine is highly resistant to rot and insect damage. The powerfully carved, lavish decorations show remarkable skill and are crucial to the shrine's impressive appearance.

Moss Street Paint-In

Last Saturday Victoria's major art event of the year took place. Over 150 visual artists took part in the 23rd annual Moss Street Paint-In. The Victoria Art Gallery is located on Moss Street, which runs from Fort Street all the way downhill to Dallas Road on the beach. Artists display their art and work on current projects under under the shade of the great trees all down both sides of the street.

While it's mostly painters, there are a few sculptors such as above (top) and potters and artists of other types as well. Add food and music and kids' activities and it's no wonder that about 35,000 people (including the normally shy Vincent Van Gogh - right) turned out.