Читать книгу A Sense of Place - Robin Laurence - Страница 11

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As travellers from abroad arrive at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and enter the International Terminal, they experi-ence a powerful and unique welcome. Having passed long walls of glass framing views of ocean, mountains and deep green forest, they encounter a high view of Canada Customs Hall from a large and beautiful landing. The landing serves as a kind of stage, where distinctive cultural and natural elements enact a drama of place. Here, water cascades down a vertical rock face behind an enormous wooden sculpture. Carved in red cedar by leading Musqueam artist Susan Point, the sculpture is based on the shape of a traditional Coast Salish spindle whorl. It depicts stylized eagles, salmon and human figures, all caught up in a current of swirling movement and gesture and representing the intertwined themes of flight, welcome and cultural identity. Orbs realized in both positive and negative space symbolize the sun, the moon and the planet Earth, and the circular shape of the spindle whorl itself suggests the great encompassing cosmos.

Beyond this work, four richly hued weav-ings hang like celebratory banners in space, incorporating the patterns and designs of

Introduction

traditional Coast Salish blankets. Created by Debra Sparrow, Robyn Sparrow, Krista Point, Gina Grant and Helen Callbreath, they repre-sent an honoured and ancient craft practiced by the First Nations women of the region. Past the spindle whorl and the weavings, down a set of stairs and escalators separated by rushing streams of water, two large wooden welcome figures, male and female, also carved by Point, extend their greetings to all who pass by. Even on overcast days, light floods the high-ceilinged hall, contributing to the sense of wonder and delight.

The Musqueam Welcome Area at the entrance to Canada Customs Hall is a dramatic example of YVR’s thematically linked art, architecture and interior design, and their integration into an overarching theme of land, sea and sky. It also and more importantly conveys a powerful sense of place, communicating elements of the natural environment and aboriginal cultures of British Columbia and making the airport distinctive, enjoyable and memorable within the global network of aviation hubs. The sculptures and weavings on view are representative of YVR’s groundbreaking art program, which, in concert