I have been here several times, but this time I was here specifically to view an exhibit that my…read moreMom had 2 pieces in: Alberta in a Box: WIDE OPEN. This juried exhibit shows 51 works by 39 artists created from a vast array of clay types and styles The regular gallery inventory displays and sells the work from some of BC's top ceramic artists who use a broad variety of techniques. The prices seem very reasonable for the work of this caliber. Sharon the gallery manager is very friendly and extremely helpful. I highly recommend popping in when you are on Granville Island.

The Gallery of BC Ceramics is owned and operated by Potters Guild of British Columbia, which is a…read morenon-profit. The shop allows the public to enjoy and purchases ceramics from over 100 local artists at any given time. You'll find mugs, plates, bowls, vases, tiles, jewelry, and sculptures. I bought a beautiful ceramic honey jar that came filled with delicious Nicola Valley honey. The honey pot is dishwasher safe, which makes it just that much cooler. I saw some really cool tiles with images of cranes (not the birds, rather the kind you see all over the city) that I wouldn't mind buying another time. If you are looking for a unique, handmade gift that supports local artists, make sure to check out the Gallery of BC Ceramics.

What an amazing and unique arts and crafts to do alone, a small group, or in our case, a group of 8…read moregirls! All of us had a great time from the moment we walked in. The ambiance is super cute, with colorful, warm vibes. The music always soothing, and you even get hot tea and Turkish delights in bites. 1) booking has never been easier. We selected the pick you piece on site. So go earlier so you can browse and really find the piece and size you want. 2) go early, so you can start planning what kind of mosaic you plan to design in your platter. 3) be mindful of the time. You get 3 hrs, but the hours go really fast when you're having fun, and you're also new to this. Set some time aside, more than 1 hr, so do the filler beading at the end. My friends and I really pushed the boundaries of time limit and was rushing to finish our beading filler. Still super fun, but super intense thinking we wouldn't finish on time. Definitely would go back and do this again. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The establishment was clean and chic. Please note that this isn't wheel chair friendly and that you will have to go down a bunch of stairs to reach the studio. Price was right! For unlimited glass and beads. And for just the whole experience. Really recommend it! Parking was easy to find outside. Paid meter, bust its only 2 hrs max? So had to go up again to refill.. send a friend up with your receipts so one person can refill all the cars. Or carpool!

Hands down, the best art workshop around!…read more At the Mosaic Art Studio you can make your own traditional Turkish lamp using hand cut mosaic glass and beads. I've never been to a more satisfying art workshop. You start with a specific project in mind (think Candle Holders, or different shapes of lamps... Table, Aladdin, Swan, and Moon lamps). They are all the same difficulty and range in prices from $79-139. In their studio, you spend 3 hours making your lamp, and what may seem like a lot of time, those precious hours will fly by. Their studio, which is just across from Columbia station, is gorgeous! It's decorated with rugs and lamps and intricate Turkish pieces all set to get inspiration from. Each workshop table has an assortment of colorful beads and hand-cut glass pieces. You also get a handy sheet that has examples of designs that you can use for your creation. It's fun getting to design your own lamp. You have the creative freedom to choose the color, shapes and styles, or you can even wing it. Whatever you choose, it will come out perfectly following their instruction on what to do. Once you're finished making your glass bowl insert, the studio takes two weeks to seal it to preserve your design. You'll receive an email when it's ready to collect. And at home, you can marvel in awe of what you created. I've also booked the team here for an in-office team-building group workshop, and they were fantastic. They set up everything similar to their studio and even played the traditional Turkish music. The instruction was clear and they had plenty of their friends to help on a one-on-one basis if anyone needed help or advice. The team here make it a really seamless process and I couldn't recommend them enough! Come to their beautiful studio or book them for an event, either way, it's a fun time creating your own Turkish mosaic lamp!

Located on Granville Street, Atelier Gallery was first established in 1974. While the focus is on…read moreemerging Canadian artists, they also exhibit a diverse range of talent. They consistently show work done in a broad spectrum of media and subject matter. From the playful and whimsical to the more urban and abstract, two-dimensional work is generally given priority. Like all galleries, season after season, the nature of the gallery changes depending on what is available in the current artscape. In addition to showcasing the artwork of emerging artists, Atelier has a wide range of services to the budding collector. They offer a payment plan for those who love art but can't afford to pay $7000 in one go. In addition, private consultations are available to individuals or corporations who may wish to develop their art collection or need assistance with appraisals for tax purposes. For emerging artists, they have an ongoing submission process for those eager to find representation.

Believe it or not, I found this place by looking around our hotel on Google Maps. It turned out to…read morebe a bit more fun than I had expected, but TBH I did not have high expectations. We had some time to kill during our trip, so I booked a time for my group to come in. It is a pretty small spot, but it is well thought out "gallery" to take fun or silly photos with your group (or date). It's like different backdrops for you to take your own photos. Plan to spend at least 30-45 minutes, so that you are not in a rush. You'll want to try different poses and angles for each space/scene/exhibit. My fave was probably the anti-gravity room, the optical illusion space (the one where each side makes a person look super big/tall and the other side shrinks the person, like Alice in Wonderland). Don't miss the mirrored room towards the back. Reservations are a must, at least currently, they don't take walk ins.

Fantastic place! If you like taking photos while doinh silly poses and being part of 3d art, this…read moreis right up your alley. You will probably end up spending a good 45 minutes to an hour in the gallery. Definitely good for datenight or even a girls' night. Remember to take a lot of photos and get your posing/acting skills on!

Everyone raves about Paper-Ya, which is a very nice paper store, but there's another paper art…read morestudio worth checking out on Granville Island. The Textile Context Studio carries beautiful handmade paper, albums, and cards, and features exhibits of paper arts and crafts by local artists. When I stopped in, the exhibit was of 3-D collages/cutouts called "Tunnel Books." Most were about the size of a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper or two, and were intricately cut out, folded, or glued into a standalone object. For each one, the idea, or joke, behind the piece was immediately obvious. They were very, very good. It's a small shop/studio, but the artist(s) work up front as they mind the place, and the woman who was there was very friendly. They don't have a website, but I think some of the exhibiting artists offer workshops and talks in conjunction with their shows. Sometimes they also sell papercrafting kits, so if you love paper, visit or call them up.

I support the arts, and I love exploring museums and galleries, wherever I go. So I was thrilled to…read morepass this contemporary art gallery many times in my travels in Yaletown (my new neighborhood, as we moved here six months ago). I finally got the chance the other day to go in and check it out. I know this gallery has various "off-site" locations (such as at the Yaletown-Roundhouse station), but I am only reviewing this site on Nelson Street. It's very small. There are two exhibition rooms, with a small ante-room by the front door with published materials (books and flyers) and a few eclectic knick-knacks. The actual exhibition rooms contain artwork installations that rotate regularly, so every 3-5 months or so, the exhibits will change. When I visited, there was a screen projector in one room, projecting scenes of waterfalls and/or clouds and sunrises and sunsets on the walls. (I forget the artist's name). The other room contained an installation by Andrew Dadson highlighting plant forms and light. I really enjoyed the Dadson exhibit, and I read up on the exhibit and the artist off the complementary flyers provided. My kid and I liked how admission to the gallery was free, and we enjoyed checking out the two artists' works on display. But the site and exhibits are so small, it took us ten minutes to see it all. I think most people would spend between 5-15 minutes here, I say this so people reading this don't make this gallery an end destination and drive here specifically to check it out. Better to add it to your list with other things to do in Yaletown.

Came here with a group of friends to check out the Deanna Bowen's "A Harlem Nocturne" exhibit with…read moresome friends. It's a definitely a more intimate gallery, and while the architecture may not be anything to phone home about, I thought it was really nice. Very clean, well lit, and yes, you guessed it -- contemporary. While the Deanna Bowen exhibit was great, another really stand-out feature for me was the little "Resources" nook. I spent about 30 minutes there, waiting for my punctually-challenged friends, so I really got into things. Great selection of books, prints, and artwork, most available for purchase, about or relating to the various exhibits. The little TV playing the loop of five or six videos, again, relating to the various exhibits, was a great for either an introductory or deeper look into the displayed artists or their exhibits. It's a chic, little gallery. A great place to check out if you've got an hour to kill downtown. I'd absolutely go again!

Lovely gallery with a very interesting selection of beautiful art. Definitely worth a visit!read more

Always enjoy strolling thru this gallery…read more The artwork is always distinctive and intriguing!

This is the most wonderful bank lobby you will ever encounter! Filled with natural light, artwork,…read morea cute little cafe where the aroma of coffee permeates the open space, and the most amazing focal point: a 7-story high, massive, aluminum pendulum that swings from the ceiling. It's quite the engineering feat, and it is mesmerizing in its precision and constant, silent motion. Like any art gallery, it's hit or miss, whether or not you will find the pieces on display pleasing and inviting. I've had great luck here, in that, whenever I've popped in, they were hosting an exhibition of artwork that I love. Recently I visited and they were showing various examples of works by many artists from the upcoming Eastside Art Crawl next week. There were photos and paintings and mixed media works and sculptures, all by local artists. I love how Vancouver has such a vibrant art scene, and how this HSBC banking center supports the arts by displaying works throughout the year. It's free to visit and you needn't be a HSBC customer to stop in and check out the art and the fabulous pendulum!

It's a nice office building atrium to visit just for the pendulum. But unless you're aiming to get…read moreinto a trance, there's only so much pendulum you can follow. And so, art. Unlike the Vancouver Art Gallery, this is free when all you want is a little peek to escape the rain or kill some time before your happy hour rendez-vous. Programming includes both gallery initiated projects and collaborations as well as exhibitions from outside groups or individuals. The space can also be used for events and receptions. For example, the current preview exhibition of Arts Umbrella's annual Splash Art Auction & Gala has nearly a hundred pieces by local artists with a range of prices and styles. And if you need the cash, just head over to the HSBC teller.