Heart of the House: Art & the West Coast Modern Home
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria 1040 Moss Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 4P1
Gordon A. Smith, "Coast Range"
oil. Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation Funds. AGGV 1960.040.001
Public Open House: January 28th, 10AM - 5PM
This exhibition highlights a selection of art and objects associated with West Coast modernism and the domestic interior from the AGGV’s permanent collection. It considers these works of art as integral to the concept of modern living that developed in mid century British Columbia, whether part of a fully integrated interior, or simply objects made and enjoyed by artists and collectors active in the mid 20th century.
The exhibition includes works made and collected by architects and owners of noteworthy modernist houses in British Columbia, including BC Binning (1909-1976), Jessie Binning (1906-2007), John di Castri (1924-2005), Jack Shadbolt (1909-1998), Nicholas Abkhazi (1899-1987) and Peggy Abkhazi (1902-1994). It also includes a selection of works by these artists and their peers, that although were not made for noteworthy West Coast Modern Houses, share a common aesthetic with those that were, and form part of a larger effort to infuse homes of various designs and ages with modern art. The goal is for visitors to see works that were significant to the fusion of art and architecture in mid century British Columbia.