VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS DAY 4 (Monday 15 Feb)

The Bill Reid Gallery in Downtown Vancouver has a permanent retrospective of the master artist’s work and a Cultural Olympiad exhibition “Continuum” showing current First Nation artists. Bill Reid (1920-1998) was for a long period Canada’s leading exponent of West Coast First Nation artwork in the Haida tradition, producing inspired traditional and contemporary works in a variety of mediums. Reid designed the First Nation village outside the Museum of Anthropology; the museum itself displays significant examples of his work. The art on display in the Gallery includes woodwork, ink and print-work, fine jewellery and textiles. It is difficult to pick favourites amongst the collection and exhibition when the work is consistently magnificent in detail and spirituality.

Ridicule masks are traditionally used to air grievances and destroyed when the matter is resolved. The “Redemption” mask (Mike Dangeli - Continuum) standing 1.26m tall, one-half in black native patterns and one-half face, is an imposing source of challenge and reflection; perhaps an appropriate message for the times in which we live. On a much more intimate scale Reid’s “Milky Way” necklace is as stunning as its namesake on a clear Outback night, fine gold rods form geodesic links with twinkling diamonds at each node point – an amazingly intricate and beautiful piece.

The winning athletes in these Olympics receive a medal that it also a piece of artwork in a Victory Ceremony at either Whistler or the massive BC Place dome in downtown Vancouver. Gazing at the curtain that divides the dome in half, one is struck by the authenticity of the stylised images of British Columbia depicting a lush green landscape; no snow in sight. Was the artist blessed with foresight or just tempting the weather gods? The Victory Ceremonies are an opportunity to promote Canada’s talent and diversity across its eleven provinces and three territories. Tonight’s proceedings begin with an entertaining melange of Québécois MoR artists and performers backed by a montage of scenic images straight from the tourism brochure. Headline act Gregory Charles had it tough, competently delivering a wise selection of 70’s and 80’s hits off the back of the medal ceremony that all of Canada was waiting for. Bussed in from Whistler for the benefit of 25,000 BC Place fans, Canada’s man of the moment Alexandre Bilodeau received his gold. The locals almost raised the roof in jubilation, that Canadian reserve showed a few cracks but hung in there.

Let’s Go Canada Go came alive today.