I miss the little free museums

In Cambridge, there were probably a dozen free museums or more, from the giant Fitzwilliam to the wee Classical museum filled with plaster casts (which I am appalled to say I never blogged about!). Here in Vancouver, we don't go in for that sort of thing apparently, and a day out in a museum can cost quite a bit.

Yesterday Stephen and I were out at the university to have lunch with an old friend, and afterwards we went to explore the Museum of Anthropology, with its amazing collection of Coast Salish and other artefacts. We took the free tour, which was excellent, but of course selective, and then didn't really have time to go back and look at everything. I think we will have to go again, maybe when someone comes to visit.

There was not a lot of textile work on display, but this was in the main hall: a modern piece by some local Musqueam artists.

"I could knit that," she says.

The museum had a huge donation from the family of Walter Koerner, including a rather marvellous collection of European ceramics. Of course, a pot shaped like a cabbage, with a companion parrot pitcher, is right up my alley.

The main claim to fame of the museum is its collection of West Coast First Nations art. These are a few potlatch bowls.

They would be filled with food for the great gatherings, to show off one's wealth, and also just to feed a hundred people at once.

I'd say this was more than life-sized. 

A house-pole, I believe. Look at that lovely snake!

Bill Reid was a modern Haida carver, with a rather interesting life-story. He became very well known in the 1980s, making a large war canoe for the opening ceremonies of Expo 86 and making this magnificent sculpture of the Raven and the First Men.

Somewhere in someone's house is a copy of this that my dad made in his carving days!

Today it is pouring with rain, yet again. "January rain brings February flowers," we must remember.