October 2015

Track

Everything old is new again. Which is a little like nostalgia, but without all that "unable to reconcile the glory days receding in the rear view mirror" connotations. I was there in the 90's, but because it's obviously the greatest decade of music known to humanity, there was just simply too much music to take in. Back in those days you'd just trip over amazing songs while sneaking to the back of the coffee shop to use the bathroom without buying coffee (and before Starbucks ruined everthing).  Of course I knew about Mudhoney, but a month ago I honestly couldn't have whistled a tune by them. So this may be their greatest acheivement: Writing a song 25 years ago that still makes people want to cover it. It's good to be remembered, isn't it?

Critical Information

When it comes to music, I usual stick to the rock and/or roll. But here's an article about noise. What I thought was interesting is that this very mainstream national newspaper, with a reporter that can often be found writting about cufflinks and ascots, is here covering grotty noise artists in Halifax. I happen to like grotty noise art. Russell Smith does talk about the art, but he spends a good amount of time talking about the art's affect on himself. Dispite that navel gazing, it's all a good read, and Smith sounds like someone who's knowledgeable about the scene. 

Just wanted to point out that there is some old guy from Germany that has decided to make strange noise art for the better part of his life, which has led him to a gotty box of a venue in the little city of Halifax. He might be on Twitter. There is some facebooking, but no desperetely posting 10 times about the show. It's just him, doing his thing, and if anyone else wants to check it out, that's cool. Should we all be so self assured.

Building

There has been some ink spilt on the new Vancouver Art Gallery. I am a fan of concrete and wood. I'm thankful that it's not another glass tower. I'm almost a fan of the building. But it's just not quite right.

Let's call it Steve.

I'm not one to pine for buildings that adhere to the existing template. Out with the old, I say. But the building doesn't really hold a candle to a classic, Miesian building like the old post office as seen in this street shot.

The concept is heavy on top, and light at the bottom: Lots of glass on those lower floors and an almost solid wood fasade on the top 3 "boxes". The box forms vary in size with the biggest ones on the top. Maybe they're hoping it looks like an inukshuk. Maybe it's a nod to Minecraft. Can't say for sure.

Here's another building that does the heavy on top thing, it's the SFU library at the Burnaby campus. There's almost a classical order to the levels of opaqueness as you rise up the building. It's orderly, regular. I'm sure to a world class architecture firm, you can't just do that again. You've got to go further. I agree. Doesn't mean it's going in the right direction, and that's OK.

Below is another SFU shot, this one at the Academic Quadrangle. The Quad is a classic university setting, and it shows a little of what I love about elevating the solid form up. At SFU the building is lifted up, and gives the person on the ground stunning views of the landscape. Seems like a good reason to lift it up, and makes for good copy about transparency. What is the the VAG building letting us see?

If the board is hoping for public backing on it, they're going to be challenged to get it. I don't think the new VAG has to change a lot to be amazing, so I'm hopeful that a little sober second thoughts will prevail.