HI DEF – VR Media’s new series of fine art prints
Diyan Achjadi “Tottery” (def. unsteady, subject to change or variation)
Diyan is currently working on a year-long public art project funded by the City of Vancouver called “Coming Soon!”. It runs until September 2019 and consists of monthly postering sprees of her beautiful handmade prints of drawings of construction debris and safety cones, mesh, fencing etc. at construction sites around town. More info on the project can be found here: https://comingsoon.construction/
This image is a highly collectable iteration of the work you’ll see in the coming months. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting public art project in Vancouver at the moment! I wrote about it for Galleries West here: http://www.gallerieswest.ca/magazine/stories/diyan-achjadi-coming-soon/
“I am a pedestrian. Every day I walk – from home to work; around the neighbourhood with my dogs; to the shops down the street. Walking is the way that I get to know a city, its roads, its buildings, its topography. In Vancouver, my embodied knowledge of a path is often interrupted by construction. Buildings that were once personal markers of space seem to suddenly disappear; sidewalks become covered by plywood and fencing; familiar routes redirected by orange cones and signs; all contributing to sense of unsteadiness about my familiarity with this city.” – DA
Sonny Assu “Let’s Dance”
Sonny Assu’s exploration of Pop and Kwakwaka’wakw culture continues with “Let’s Dance”. One part homage to David Bowie’s iconic 80s pop-hit, one part tongue-in-cheek nod to the Kwakwaka’wakw continued practice of the pasa (the potlatch), Let’s Dance combines Sonny’s iconic Ligwiłda’xw/Kwakwaka’wakw style with the aesthetics of 80s ephemera.
The five descending T’łakwa (Coppers) are in reference to the original communities of the Ligwiłda’xw people, prior to colonial contact. In the back ground, a Sisiutl, in the form of a Dantsik, watches over these ancestors as they make their way through the sky-realm.
ABOUT THE SERIES
HI DEF
In the summer of 2005 Vancouver Review launched one of its most popular features; the Centrefold. The idea stemmed from the print magazine tradition of including an image of a pin-up model inserted in the middle of the publication as a gatefold spread, intended for removal and posting to a wall.
Naturally we intended to subvert the idea and have artists create new works that would then be available for sale as limited edition prints. For the next six years we were honoured to have many great artists, established and relatively unknown, do wonderful and varied works for the feature. The relationships formed back then endure to this day.
Now that the VR no longer exists in print but is instead focused on video, we thought it would be great to relaunch the Centrefold feature but adapted for the digital platform. To that end we give you “Hi Def” a new series of works by several familiar artists and, in the future, some less familiar ones. The idea is to restrict the image aspect ratio to 16:9 which is the HD video standard to which we are all accustomed. Aside from that, it’s fair game!
Once again these pieces are available in limited editions of 20. They are again being printed by Fidelis and the image size is 24″ x 13.5″ with an additional 1/2″ border on top and sides and a one inch border along the bottom. They will be signed and numbered by the artists. Cost is $250 each plus any shipping/handling. Local sales include free delivery.
Contact mark@vancouverreviewmedia.com for more information.
CENTREFOLD
These original works first appeared as actual centrefolds in the print edition of Vancouver Review magazine from 2005 to 2011.
All of these works are now available exclusively through Vancouver Review Media. They come in artist-signed archival editions of 20 (printed by Fidelis) at 16″ x 20″ and are available for $250.00 + shipping.
Most are still available. Send us a note for more information.
By Bernadette Phan. Drawing on board. From VR #9, Spring, 2006.
The first original VR Centrefold art by Neil Wedman from VR #8, Winter, 2006.
From VR #28, the final print edition, Fall, 2011.
From VR #22, Summer, 2009.
One of our most popular Centrefold spreads. Not many of these left!
“Retro Active Lifestyle” by Lee Hutzulak
From VR #15, Fall, 2007.
This is wonderfully typical of Lee’s style. It was always a treat to commission him to do illustrations for the VR.
“How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” by Val Nelson
From VR #19, Fall 2008.
A painting of Queen Mary Elementary School in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood. It’s timely to reproduce this one in light of the recent destruction of General Gordon Elementary School in Kitsilano. Seismic upgrading supposedly necessitates the destruction of the older brick structures around town, many of which are schools with rich histories.
“Plaza 8” by Bruce Emmett
From VR #19, Fall 2008.
A familiar sight for skaters and Bruce is both painter and skater.
“My Dear” by Marian Bantjes
From VR #16, Winter 2008.
Marian’s delightful take on the ubiquitous e-mail spam format, here re-imagined as a kind of extravagant promissory note!