Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Art Gallery of Alberta: Guggenheim of the Prairies




Art Gallery of Alberta

“It looks like the Guggenheim,” Andrea exclaimed when she first caught a glimpse of the remodelled Art Gallery of Alberta. “They copied it."

And certainly anyone who sees what they've done with the re-imagined repository of art would have to admit that the architect was at least inspired by the curved lines and open spaces of the Guggenheim. And that's not a bad thing.

But the people at the AGA will also tell you that the architecture was inspired by the city itself – a rigid grid of streets and avenues, superimposed on the flowing lines of the river and valley.

It's an interesting synthesis. And wherever you go in the gallery, you feel like you're inside some synthetic jewel looking out to see the different facets of the city.

Well, at least you would on an clear day.

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