Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
The gallery is housed in an award-winning building designed by architect Peter Cardew, and "has been praised for its economical plan, expressive interiors and dramatic structure." [1] Stored on site is UBC’s growing collection of contemporary art, as well as an archive containing more than 30,000 objects related to the history of art in Vancouver.
The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery mounts 4 to 7 exhibitions of art every year by nationally and internationally important artists, and works from the collection are showcased annually in a thematic exhibition. The Belkin Art Gallery creates small scale traveling exhibitions for circulation within Canada, and collaborates on large scale exhibitions internationally. Also at the heart of the Gallery’s mandate are research, publications, and a program of screenings, performances, and lectures by artists, scholars, curators and critics.
Outdoor art has become an increasingly important aspect of the collection at UBC. Since 2003, new works have been installed on campus by renowned artists Rodney Graham, Jamelie Hassan, Myfanwy McLeod, and Edgar Heap of Birds. A self-guided tour of outdoor art on campus can be downloaded from the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery website.
Admission to the gallery is free.
History
The UBC Fine Arts Gallery was founded in 1948, occupying a section in the basement of Main Library on the University campus. At this time, the Fine Arts Gallery was the only venue in the Vancouver region that focused exclusively on contemporary art. The Gallery rose in national status during the 1960s and 1970s by presenting innovative work by artists who were establishing Vancouver on the international art scene. Until 1994, the Gallery was used only as an exhibition space; afterwards, it began to house and administer the University Art Collection. On June 14, 1995, the Fine Arts Gallery was rededicated the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery and opened its new facility at 1825 Main Mall.[2]
References
- ↑ Cardew, Peter. Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ↑ History. Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. Retrieved 2009-06-02.