Coast Consignment is not hiring new employees. If you are contacted by someone purporting to be from our company and offering you a job and/or requesting money from you, this is not our company.

Please contact your local police department and anti-fraud centre to report this.

Blog

Audain Art Museum

Two weeks ago the Audain?Art Museum?in Whistler officially opened. One of our owners and our Senior Appraiser, Tina and a friend headed there last Monday, March 21st to check it out. Wow!? What a place. It?s absolutely incredible. The permanent collection is mind-blowing and the Emily Carrs, EJ Hughes and Jeff Walls are fantastic as is the collection of historic and contemporary First Nations?artwork. The building’s architecture is impressive you can find out all about it on their website. The building is not 100% finished yet but it is coming along nicely and the main Gallery is completely finished.

Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun (1957-) Clearcut to the Last Old Growth Tree, 2013 Acrylic on canvas
Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun (1957-)
Clearcut to the Last Old Growth Tree, 2013
Acrylic on canvas

Michael Audain is the founder and President of Polygon Development Corporation and one of (if not the largest) collector of Canadian art in Canada. Mr. Audain and his wife Yoshi have collected works over decades and decided that they wanted to share much of what they collected with all Canadians so he founded this incredible gallery. Whistler generously donated the land (gifted for $1 or $100 dollars) to the Audain Foundation to build the Art Museum?on to display much of Audain?s collection.

I took some photos of some of the pieces that spoke to me the most as well as some photos of the building. I hope you enjoy them and I encourage you to head up to Whistler to check this amazing art museum?out for yourself.

An interior window in the current exhibition gallery looking out into the woods of Whistler
An interior window in the current exhibition gallery looking out into the woods of Whistler
The Audain Art Museum Breezeway
The Audain Art Museum Breezeway

 

 

An inner stairwell leading to an as yet unopened section of the Museum
An inner stairwell leading to an as yet unopened section of the Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of Emily Carr’s most famous paintingsthat Audain purchased in 2013 for 3.3million at The Heffel Canadian Art Auction.

Emily Carr (1971-1945) The Crazy Stair (The Crooked Staircase), circa 1928-1930 oil on canvas
Emily Carr (1971-1945) The Crazy Stair (The Crooked Staircase),
circa 1928-1930
oil on canvas

One of my favourite pieces was this enormous 479cm – 323cm carving by Haida Carver James Hart. You have to see it to feel it’s incredible power. It’s a stunning piece.

James Hart 2010-2013 The Dance Screen Carving red cedar panel with abalone, mica, acrylic, wire and yew wood
James Hart
2010-2013
The Dance Screen
Carving
red cedar panel with abalone, mica, acrylic, wire and yew wood

We also really enjoyed this important Haida contemporary piece by Shawn Hunt which is of an Eagle with a can of salmon in its talons; a commentary on our current environmental and climate challenges..?

Shawn Hunt (1975-) Traditional Evolution. Supermarket Eagle, 2013 Acrylic on Canvas
Shawn Hunt (1975-)
Traditional Evolution. Supermarket Eagle, 2013
Acrylic on Canvas

Without a doubt one of my most favourite Canadian artist’s is Jack Shadbolt. This 6-panel piece called Butterfly Transition dominates the room with it’s strength, texture, colours and depth. Its breath

 

Jack Shadbolt (1909-1998) Butterfly Transformation, 1981
Jack Shadbolt (1909-1998)
Butterfly Transformation, 1981

Another favourite artist is EJ Hughes who has captured the British Columbia West Coast so perfectly when our seaside towns were bustling with fishing and industry. It’s paintings are bright, cheerful and realistic. These really brighten my day and make me smile.

Edward John (E.J.) Hughes 1913-2007) Brady's Beach near Bamfield, BC Oil on Canvas
Edward John (E.J.) Hughes 1913-2007)
Brady’s Beach near Bamfield, BC
Oil on Canvas
Edward John (E.J.) Hughes (1913-2007) Echo Bay, 2953 Oil on Canvas
Edward John (E.J.) Hughes (1913-2007)
Echo Bay, 2953
Oil on Canvas

Last but not least are some incredible Haida masks. These represent so much power, strength and creativity. They are important symbols and representations of Haida culture and history.

Jay Simeon (1976-) Untitled (seawolf and killer whale maks), 2008 alder with cedar bark, horsehair, holly wood, puau shell and copper
Jay Simeon (1976-)
Untitled (seawolf and killer whale maks), 2008
alder with cedar bark, horsehair, holly wood, paua?shell and copper

Untitled (porcupine hunter mask), 2010 red cedar, pigment, porcupine quills

Untitled (porcupine hunter mask), 2010
red cedar, pigment, porcupine quills