Vancouver Art Gallery

Did you ever hear about the dynamite-loving lion of the Vancouver Art Gallery? Let’s uncover the captivating story of this iconic Vancouver landmark. The Vancouver Art Gallery stands proudly in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It is housed in a neoclassical building with a rich history. The building started its life as a provincial courthouse, designed by Francis Rattenbury and opened in 1911. Its ionic columns, central dome, and ornate stonework hint at its grand past. Now, it houses Western Canada’s largest art museum. The Vancouver Art Gallery’s permanent collection boasts around 12,000 works. It features artists from the region, across Canada, and around the world. Notable in the collection are a significant number of works by Emily Carr. In fact, the Vancouver Art Gallery, along with the National Gallery of Canada, holds the largest collection of Carr’s works globally. But back to our lion. Two granite lions guard the old courthouse entrance. Carved from granite from Nelson Island, they were installed in 1910. One fateful night in 1942, a dynamite blast damaged the rear of one lion. Windows shattered in nearby hotels. Some even feared an air raid. The two original stonecutters, John Whitworth and Herbert Ede, repaired the lion. Look closely, you can still see the join line. The culprits were never found. The Vancouver Art Gallery isn’t just a repository of art. It’s a community hub, a gathering place for protests and celebrations. It’s where Critical Mass cyclists meet, where zombies walk, and where rallies for various causes take place. The steps are a popular spot, a place to relax, socialize, and be heard. So, next time you visit the Vancouver Art Gallery, take a moment to appreciate the lions. Remember their explosive tale, a small but significant part of this grand building’s fascinating history.