A sad note to end the year of art.

As a Vancouver native, I’ve always held a deep love for my city, but its art scene has often felt…lacking. While my childhood memories hold glimmers of artistic wonder, the adult reality has been one of limited dynamism, particularly in the realm of contemporary and new media art. That’s why the 2014 opening of the New Media Gallery in New Westminster was such a breath of fresh air. This public gallery, under the visionary direction of Gordon Duggan and Sarah Joyce, became a beacon of innovative and cutting-edge art, showcasing work from around the globe. Now, with its recent closure, a significant void has been left in Vancouver’s artistic landscape, a loss deeply felt by those who craved a more forward-thinking and engaging art experience.

I’m from Vancouver Canada and while I love the city very much, it’s certainly not the most interesting or dynamic place for art, though it was pretty amazing when I was a kid when innovative artists and musicians facilitated an amazing Downtown scene.

But when the New Media gallery opened in New Westminster, I was finally excited. Here was a Metro Vancouver gallery – a PUBLIC gallery – curating some of the most innovative and cutting-edge artists today.

Founded in 2014 by the City of New Westminster, New Media Gallery has thrived spectacularly over the past decade under the expert leadership of Director-Curators Gordon Duggan and Sarah Joyce. During this impressive period, the duo curated 35 group exhibitions that showcased over 160 works by more than 200 artists from 39 countries. The gallery not only established an outstanding program but also achieved international acclaim, collaborating with some of the most dynamic artists worldwide. It boldly championed art and ideas that explored the creative potential and intricate implications of technology in contemporary life.

Joyce and Duggan’s curatorial practice is grounded in equitable, authentic, and impactful engagement and dialogue. Every visitor is invited to a personal conversation with the curators – whether it is a family with young children or an arty egghead like me. As curators they have the rare skill of being able to communicate about art to absolutely everyone – creating truly meaningful visits.

During each visit to Vancouver, I have made it a point to visit the gallery and write reviews. I never encountered an exhibition that I did not appreciate.

It is deeply disheartening to learn of the gallery’s closure, especially prior to my current visit to Vancouver. This is unfortunate news for a region that is in dire need of innovative curation. While the Vancouver Art Gallery hosts some commendable touring exhibitions, it has not excelled in producing its own engaging shows. Local private galleries tend to focus primarily on decorative interior design art. Museums in the area often lean towards specialized themes or fail to adequately showcase a diverse range of artistic expressions. The number of smaller artist-run galleries remains limited and they frequently have short lifespans. Despite the city’s substantial size, support for the fine arts appears to be significantly lacking.

Anyway, I wanted to celebrate this wonderful gallery and leave you with a link to the past exhibitions so you can see what Joyce and Duggan achieved. I hope they will be able to continue to curate in the Vancouver region, and I wish them the best in their next endeavour.

PAST EXHIBITIONS