Surprising Regina 1

For our first full day (a Sunday) in Regina we decided to go the MacKenzie Art Gallery which opened at 11am. The day dawned sunny, our first sunny day for a while. A good omen if you believe that sort of thing (and we all mostly half do). We had to drive to the gallery because it was just beyond walking distance - but Regina is very rationally constructed in a grid and basically we came out of our hotel carpark, and drove straight down Albert Street.
The Gallery itself occupies part of a very grand modernist building that has emblazoned on it “As long as the sun shines, the river flows and the grass grows”. This is actually a sculpture by internationally renowned Canadian artist Duane Linklater. The quote is unattributed but the historic 11 Numbered Treaties signed between 1871 and 1921 were regarded by Indigenous peoples as lasting as long as the sun shines etc. So this quote on the gallery is quite political, aiming to prompt conversation on the issue of justice for First Nations.
The art on display ranged widely but was very arresting. The Multiple Lives of Paintings 1500-1800 looked at (sometimes newly established) copies of master painters by lesser painters. The other exhibition, including sculpture, paintings, marionettes etc, was by a new artist, Shary Boyle, and her concern was about our multiple identities and performances.
After the gallery we walked in the fabulous park called the Wascana Centre. This huge park contains the quite magnificent Saskatchewan Legislative Building. The flags fluttered on the also impressive Albert Bridge devoted to Victoria’s beloved Albert. Canadian loyalist sentiment runs strongly in Saskatchewan!
We finished the day with an amazing meal at Arrigato 2, a Korean restaurant. Yum!!Read more