I think I p*ssed her off?

Trying to understand Self: Uh you know you're going to have to look interested, or at least look awake?

Artist Self: Um ya.

I know.

All I have to do is listen right?

TTUS: Ya.

Do you think you're good at that even when you're not jet lagged? (btw, you're shaming yourself)

AS: Fair.

I don't like to listen.

It's fine.

Coffee will fix all.

OR

Give me heart palpitations and still be very sleepy.

Which is exactly what happened.

I was awake and probably overly alert from the caffeine but also fought my eye lids so hard to stay open.

Background Info: Having left Vancouver for a dozen years, I'm keen on connecting with my hometown's art scene. I've heard and read that the scene is booming.

So?

I signed up for an art guided tour at the Rennie Museum.

Location: Rennie Museum at Wing Sang Building.

Exhibition: Ian Wallace: Collected Works.

AS: I'm going to tell the docent that I'm jet lagged so I don't come off as being super aggro.

TTUS: Ok.

Smile when you do it.

Don't look like you're a sociopath.

You have that stare-y blank face when you're spaced out.

AS: I have failed.

She probably thinks I'm making an excuse.

TTUS: Oh well. To be expected.

OOO Look at the row of rainbow coloured paintings.

AS: This is very reminiscent of Warhol.

Though it's not in the usual quadrant composition.

The silkscreened image on top of a colourful background is in reference to Pop Art.

Obvs the subject matter is not at all Pop related. It's the use of silkscreen on vibrant colours which I'm interpreting it as a reference to Warhol.

The juxtaposition is very interesting: the seemingly light heartedness of the colours whilst documenting the Vancouver homeless situation decades ago. The subject is definitely Arte Povera. Translating directly to Poor Art from Italian to English.

Key points: Arte Povera was a movement from 1962-1972.

It was a predominately Italian movement using everyday materials as a social commentary on a progressive society.

Main takeaway: Poor and poor matched up in my brain in a time of sleepiness.

When the docent finally said the words Arte Povera, I nodded ferociously. I saw the fire in the docent's eyes.

I think I pissed her off?

TTUS: Uh huh.

And brain shuts off until we move to the next piece.

AND AWAKE

Blast from the past.

Subject matters look like they're from the 80's 90's.

How in line with current fashion trends.

AS: Doesn't this space totally look like the Joseph Beuys at Guggenheim?

Look at how high those ceilings are!

I think I overused my brain in the rainbow pieces.

I don't think I can try with this collection of works.

I'm going to take a time out until the next collection of works.

In the mean time, since I already made a reference to the ceiling, I'm going to a reference to the floor.

Look at the crack!

Looks like the filled in crack at the Turbine Hall a la the Tate Modern.

TTUS: Awesome.

NEXT ROOM!

AS: Of the entire room.

My favourites are of these Red, Yellow and Green paintings.

The rubbings of the tree bark being transferred onto canvases are beautiful.

Exquisite.

The process of transference is not an easy one.

To pick up details from the original object and passing it onto a new surface takes hours, trial and error and lots and lots of tacit skill and knowledge.

The final pieces have an abstract quality to it.

Without being explicitly told what the image is of, it is unclear as to what it is (thus it is abstract). Other than that it is visually pleasing to look at.

In Conclusion: This is a beautiful collection of work.

Task: Connect with the Vancouver art scene.

Task task: Next time, don't piss off the docent.