New First Nations art museum opens in W. Canada
Xinhua, March 13, 2016 Adjust font size:
A new art gallery featuring an extensive collection of First Nations art opened Saturday in Whistler, a tourist town 120 km northeast of Vancouver.
The gallery focuses on early First Nations masks and artwork, as well as works of well-known Canadian artists such as E. J. Hughes, Stan Douglas, Rodney Graham, Jeff Wall and Ian Wallace.
"It's a world-worthy collection of irreplaceable historical artifacts," co-designer of the museum John Patkau said.
The art gallery is named Audain Art Museum after sponsor Michael Audain, a Canadian home developer who donated the whole collection and the building, which is worth 30 million CAD (22.4 million U.S. dollars).
"It's a 100 million CAD (74 million U.S. dollars) gift to the community," Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden said.
The museum, which took three years to complete, covers a space of more than 5,200 square meters and is located in a wooded area at the base of Blackcomb mountain, near Whistler village.
Audain said he chose Whistler because the town had made him a good offer - the land cost him just 74 U.S. dollars for a 199-year lease.
Whistler is a popular destination for winter sports. It hosted competitions during the 2010 winter Olympic Games. Endi