Chris Gardner
2/1/2010
It was the day Edmonton art lovers have been waiting a decade for, and on Sunday several thousand people finally saw what the redesigned Art Gallery of Alberta looks like on the inside.
Photo: Robert Lemermeyer
Art lovers wound their way through the building Sunday and many say they were excited to finally see the interior of the steel structure, which from the outside features angled windows and squares of grey brick set within a ribbon of steel.
Photo: Robert Lemermeyer
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The view from the foyer
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The gallery's design was inspired by the curves of the North Saskatchewan River and the aurora borealis, or northern lights. ``I didn't know if I would like it or not _ from the outside, I haven't been that keen on it, but it's really beautiful,'' said gallery visitor Heather McGaw. ``It's really different on the inside, it's so open.''
``I'll admit a lot of the curiosity was the building itself,'' said visitor Pat Moores. ``It was a little different, but it's really, really neat.''
The 85,000-square-foot, $88-million art gallery was designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, who said he wanted visitors to feel welcome in the grand structure. ``I want them to feel uplifted, that this is a warm inviting place,'' said Stout.
Workers put the finishing touches on decorations for Friday's Gala
The building features three floors of exhibition space and will showcase historical and contemporary Canadian and international art. ``It's going to be the best of any institution in the country,'' said Alberta Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett.
The gallery is showcasing a number of exhibits including works by Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh and French artist Edgar Degas. ``It's like being transported to Europe,'' said Allan Scott, chairman of the AGA Board of Directors.
The project was funded by a capital campaign with major support from all three levels of government and private donations. With a large portion being footed by taxpayers, there has always been criticism on the pricetag, but politicians say the grief was worth it.
``We're never going to please everybody all the time,'' said Mayor Stephen Mandel. ``We have to make tough decision...this one in my mind was not difficult. You have to have iconic buildings to define your city, this is an iconic building.''
Those in the art world say the building is already creating a buzz about its potential to put Edmonton on the map. ``I'm getting emails from people in Vancouver and Toronto and they're saying everybody is watching Edmonton,'' said Gilles Herbert, the AGA's executive director. (ly, ccg, CTV Edmonton)
iReporter Theresa Lightfoot was at the ribbon cutting & submitted these photos to: iNews880@gmail.com:
Mary Kwong, Norman Kwong, Lindsay Blackett & Stephen Mandel
Edm city councillors
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Allan Scott & Mayor Stephen Mandel
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Barbara Poole
On the Net:
YourAGA.ca
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