Galleries and the perfect cup of coffee
This evening was my first time back to the Vancouver Art Gallery since I completed my degree in April of last year. My student pass no longer valid I am forced to enjoy the evening amidst the crowds on the “by donation” Tuesday evening. The show had a few pieces of interest and in the showing of abstract works, I recognized a fair number of pieces but over all the exhibition lacked a certain “gusto” as my mother would say. Sad as it may be, I still say that the Brien Jungen show in 2006 has always been my favourite at the VAG. I expected to be disappointed to some degree and yet I was completely blown away by his talent and his creative thought. If he’s unfamiliar to you he’s widely known for creating native masks out of Air Jordan shoes. For me, it was the lawn chair dinosaur skeletons that drew me in among other things .
Upon the shows closing we had hoped to enjoy a great cappuccino from Artigianos cafe. To our dismay it closed just as we came upon the few stairs to the door. Artigianos is one of those places that reminds you of how enjoyable a drink should be and can be. Sadly most chains fall short of this and now that they’ve been purchased by a larger company my hope is that they too won’t go down the dreaded path of mediocrity. The night missed a couple high notes with the exhibits and the coffee but the company was great and the adventures in the city were definitely needed and well worth the trek.
It makes me wonder what is so different from one cup to the next that they taste worlds apart? While in Italy in May 2006 I enjoyed possibly the most delicious cappuccino at the gallery which was once home to Peggy Guggenheim. If only such goodness didn’t have to be so far away.