The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) has just launched a fascinating new exhibition focusing on an era of political upheaval, economic prosperity and cultural blossoming: Vancouver in the Seventies: Photos from a Decade that Changed the City.
On view at MOV beginning today through February 26, 2017, the comprehensive show features 400 images from the Vancouver Sun newspaper archives as well as a number of 1970’s artifacts from the museum’s own collection. A soundscape of 70’s obscure (and well-known) local and international bands will accompany the exhibit.
MOV Senior Curator Viviane Gosselin describes the images as “stunning snapshots of an intense period of self-discovery and growing up for Vancouver. They capture the beauty of everyday events and chronicle the drama of pivotal moments that continue to shape the city.”
The project came about a year ago when Vancouver Sun’s research librarian Kate Bird approached MOV to collaborate on something that would define the decade yet avoid turning into a literal “book on a wall” exhibit.
These images, not exhibited publicly until today, are organized around themes of protesting, building, performing and playing in Vancouver. Vancouver in the Seventies builds on the book of the same name, publishing October 15 by Greystone Books.
Vancouver in the Seventies presents 149 exclusive photos from the Vancouver Sun’s extensive collection along with fascinating essays by long-time Sun news research librarian Kate Bird and former Sun journalist Shelley Fralic, coupled with a foreword from renowned Vancouver author Douglas Coupland. Together, these words and images form an unforgettable celebration of the decade in which Vancouver came into its own.
According to Bird, “this collection of Vancouver Sun photographs reveals not just the character of the city in the 1970s but how Vancouver became what it is today”.
For younger generations, it’s hard to imagine a lifestyle without instant photo sharing on social media, however each of these photos appeared just once in the newspaper, long before the Sun began archiving their vast image collection.
To encourage Vancouverites to consider the future of their city, MOV invites people to come together to reflect on the 1970’s through the lenses of activism, arts, and business as well as to add their own key 1970’s Vancouver happenings to a visual timeline.
Public programs surrounding the exhibit will include a chance for news photographers and journalists to share their perspectives and invite debates on the evolving field of photojournalism.
We’ve partnered with MOV to offer one lucky Vancouverscape reader a fun prize pack: a signed copy of the accompanying book, two museum tickets and a heavy-duty MOV tote bag.
All you have to do is comment below on your favourite decade (whether or not you were alive to experience it doesn’t matter to us!) or tweet the following:
Enter to win a Vancouver in the Seventies book + @MuseumofVan tickets courtesy of MOV & @Vancouverscape [bit.ly/2e0jNfh]
I’ll draw a winner at random on Monday, October 24 at 5 pm. *Contest is open to Canadian readers who are able to pick up the prize pack at MOV in Vancouver’s Vanier Park by November 30. Good luck to all readers and don’t miss this fascinating time capsule of our city!
The Museum of Vancouver is grateful for the support of the Vancouver Sun.