Eagles Get Ugly in Vancouver

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Eagles are popping up all over Vancouver and it’s not a pretty sight. Whose idea was it anyway to make a fibreglass mould of an eagle posed in an impossibly stiff position (flying straight up and down) and then get people to paint them with garish collages of mismatched images?

According to the Spirit of Vancouver, the previous incarnation of this Lions Society fundraiser were whales and bears, but I don’t remember them being as ugly as these poor frozen eagles.

The ugliest one I’ve seen is at Parkgate Community Centre in North Vancouver, but the one at Georgia & Seymour is awful too.These embarrassing examples of public art will be out on our streets throughout the Olympics, unless we can figure out a way to break their bonds and set them free. Canadian art has never looked so bad. Sigh.

Comments (8)

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Eagles (Ughels?)

Patty, I couldn't agree more; they're stupid, unattractive (if not ugly) but, worst of all when it comes to 'art', unimaginative. They (Lions) are simpy recycling an idea that was ok the first time and maybe tolerable the second, but STTTOPPPPPP!!! I saw a Spanish-speaking family taking a quick picture by one last week, after which the dad said "vamos". Exactly: 'lets get out of here!'
But E.G.: not all the bears in PG were ugly. On the whole they were more original than the Vancouver ones (maybe we related more to bears there); one (in front of the art gallery) was pretty damned cool; a poem incised/cut out of the bear. I liked it.
What's next: fibreglass beavers? Put money on it.

Doug more than 14 years ago

I like Edmonton

But I've never been there. Just listened to the hip-hop.

Josh more than 14 years ago

Edmonton <3

You’re also the only one that likes Edmonton

sarah more than 14 years ago

am i the only one that likes

am i the only one that likes these? reminds me of edmonton.....

kay ceee more than 14 years ago

Majestic Linden

The Linden one is by far the worst:

http://www.eaglesinthecity.com/default.aspx?PageID=1091

But don't be too hard on it. Apparently it was done by a Richard Brodeur. This Richard Brodeur?

sarah more than 14 years ago

Collector's Gallery

See them all in their terrible splendor here

http://www.eaglesinthecity.com/default.aspx?PageID=1032

...if you can't make the pilgrimage to Spotted Frog Furniture Co. in Richmond to see “Dancing on Air” in person.

Josh w more than 14 years ago

Ugh.

They did cows in Calgary (of course) and bears in Prince George (of course). They were *slightly* better than these eagles (which have also recently shown up in PG). I'm not sure why... perhaps the larger canvas with which to work?

The weirdest bear was a Spiderman/First Nations fusion one that showed up at the UNBC campus and later moved downtown.

Here's a PDF map with garish pictures of the remaining bears (including the Spiderman one):

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/rec_culture/artsandculture/SpiritBearMap2008.pdf

E.G. more than 14 years ago

Have you seen that terrible

Have you seen that terrible one with Trevor Linden painted on it?

Roscoe more than 14 years ago