Doctor Vigari Gallery, 1310 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Art Beatus Consultancy is on the second floor of the Nelson Square office tower, 808 Nelson St, Vancouver

Toni Onley Archives, #105-1529 West 6th Ave, Vancouver (the light at the end of the tunnel)

I thought the Doctor Vigari Gallery might be the right place to take my cousin who’d just moved here to purchase things for her small apartment. It was easy to glimpse this art venue at 1310 Commercial Drive because its awning sign is almost bigger than it is. I phoned for details regarding prices of items in the shop. To my delight Bill Gotts, the original proprietor of this long-standing venture, was the one who answered. He refreshed my memory about the gallery’s strange name which dates back to its early days on Victoria Drive when someone scrambled the letters in the signage of the Victoria Drive Grocery to form the fictitious doctor’s name. Throughout its history, Doctor Vigari has been a great resource for people with good taste and limited budgets to shop. It’s also a place to see work by emerging artists and artisans.

The almost hysterical glee of the pink-faced man in a Preview ad for Yue Min Jun’s silkscreens, prompted me to visit the Art Beatus Consultancy at #108-808 Nelson Street. It’s hard to find the gallery even if you know that it’s in the Nelson Square office tower. Once in the foyer, a concierge will direct you to the correct elevator that will take you to the second floor where #108 is. Even if you’re expected, you have to buzz and announce youself to be let in. But when something as fine as Yue’s art awaits, it’s almost like going to a secret trist and a lot more fun than visiting the dentist! This small show offers a glimpse of an upcoming Chinese contemporary artist who, according to administrator Tamla Mah, is a new star in Hong Kong, where “Yue’s work is skyrocketing.”

My final visit was to the recently opened Toni Onley Archives at 1529 West 6th Avenue just off Granville Street. The archive is set within a courtyard and as there is no signage yet beyond the small #105 that identifies the suite, the best clue to what lies within are the art works on the wall or leaning against it. Director Jay Samwald said that, at the moment, nothing of Onley’s is on sale. His job is to oversee the preservation, restoration and conservation of the work of the famous pilot/artist who died unexpectedly two years ago. The day I was there a spectacular, early black and white collage made the trip well worthwhile.

Ann Rosenberg is a freelance curator, critic, and author.