A rendition of the Audain Art Museum is seen in this undated handout photo.
An opening date and inaugural show have been announced for the Audain Art Museum in Whistler. The museum, envisioned and built by Vancouver homebuilder and philanthropist Michael Audain, will open to the public on November 21 with an exhibition of work by renowned Vancouver photographer Jeff Wall.
"It's been an amazing winter for construction," says the museum's executive director Suzanne Greening, adding that construction is on target. "We're finally able to announce our opening date which is very exciting because we just want to get in and make it happen."
The 56,000 square foot museum designed by Patkau Architects includes a permanent gallery of just over 10,000 square feet, and a temporary exhibition space over two floors totalling just over 8000 square feet. It will be open year-round.
The project had been budgeted at $30-million but Ms. Suzanne Greening says she believes the final figure may wind up a little higher.
Mr. Audain announced he would build the museum in late 2012 to house the large collection of work he and his wife Yoshiko Karasawa have amassed – including works by Emily Carr, Lawren Harris, E.J. Hughes, Jack Shadbolt and Mr. Wall.
When deciding what the first show should be for the museum's temporary exhibition space, Mr. Wall was an obvious choice.
"Given the fact that the collection is all about B.C., Michael thought we should open with a contemporary B.C. artist, and after much discussion felt that Jeff Wall was the first artist for the exhibition," says Ms. Greening. "He's probably one of Canada's most well-known artists internationally," she continued, noting the "timelessness" and "edginess" of his work.
Jeff Wall: North & West will include about 21 pieces – all of which relate to B.C. in some way.
Marsha Lederman