Friends showcasing aboriginal artist’s ‘prolific’ work
Gifted aboriginal artist Danny Dennis transformed three ugly, concrete support pillars in the bar of the Balmoral Hotel into stunning works of art 31 years ago.
Over a number of weeks, Dennis painted three totem poles onto the large pillars in the hotel’s bar, a popular haunt in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Time hasn’t been kind to the art and one of the five-metre pillars has had significant water damage. The art on the other two pillars is still well-preserved.
Dennis, who died in 2012 at age 61, lived part of his artistic life in the DTES after moving from the Hazelton area of northern B.C.
Friends Tom Detlor, Jo McRobb and Barbie Wallace planned a retrospective art show of his work and stopped in at the pub to get a look at how the paintings were doing in a building that’s more than 100 years old. They took photos, and were excited to see the art on the two large pillars was mostly intact.
Since their visit, the floor in the bar has collapsed, forcing the City of Vancouver to shut down the pub, leaving the future of the art in doubt.
McRobb marvels at how Dennis was just as creative in producing unique jewelry as he was painting, some of which was sold in leading art galleries in B.C. and Europe.
“He was incredibly prolific,” she said of his work. She said in the middle totem you can clearly see a bear, frog, beaver, eagle and a crow, with the top part “something nobody knows what it is.”
McRobb isn’t sure what can be done about the totems.
“The question everybody asks is: ‘Can you take them out?’ And right now there is no way.”
The group plans to talk with the Sahota family, which owns the hotel. Gudy Sahota said they’re working to get the popular pub open again. “It will be reopened soon,” he said. Andreea Toma, chief licensing inspector for the city, said a lot of work must done before the bar reopens. “A full structural assessment needs to be done by a professional,” she said, noting it’s up to the owners to secure the permits, extensive work and inspection needed.
With the help of the Vancouver Foundation, the group is putting on a free art show to showcase Dennis’s work. The opening reception is Aug. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Interurban Gallery, 1 East Hastings St. Other viewings at the Interurban are Aug. 24-27 from 1 to 5 p.m.