Village Squire, 1980-02, Page 7This is a view from the gallery forum, looking out toward the
forks of the Thames, the historic heart of the city of London.
(Photo by Darlene McLean)
London's cultural activity and how exciting it is."
The gallery's official opening will be a reminder of how
exciting the city's cultural life is. The guests will include the
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, with dignitaries from the
London city council, the minister of culture and recreation,
chairman of the art gallery and of course, Raymond Moriyama.
But the public is also invited to attend the opening, which will
include guided tours of local, regional, national and international
works owned by the gallery.
It should provide the public with an opportunity to get
acquainted both with the new gallery and the people behind the
scenes who made it possible.
The London Regional Art Gallery is in a word - breathtaking.
The final stages of construction of the seven galleries within one
building are now moving along right on schedule.
As you approach the gallery site, a driveway and stone -paved
walkway lead you through a landscaped common to a vaulted
entrance canopy.
You enter the gallery through a low scaled vestibule into the
gallery lobby. Greeting you will be a current showing of artwork.
Special services such as art rental, art shop and public
washrooms are contained off the lobby. You will be greeted at a
reception desk where you will be provided with information on
current showings and activities. The gallery lobby opens into a
two storey skylit central gallery where large scale paintings and
sculptures will be exhibited. After a short walk down a half -flight
of stairs you enter the forum. The forum is a multi media area
featuring an interior pool. You may choose to view the forum
activities from the overlooking cafeteria windows. Now upstairs
via the open sculptured stairway or elevator to the permanent
and temporary exhibition areas surrounding the Central Gallery.
These gallery walls and vaulted ceiling are designed specifically
for the display of artwork you can view out to the "forks of the
Thames" from the gallery lounge or into the central gallery at
two lookout points. Specific spaces can be blacked out, with
others lit in combination with screened natural light from
overhead vault skylights.
Lighting is very important and is accented throughout the
gallery.
CHILDREN'S ARTWORK
You go down the stairs to the lower gallery, which on
occasion will feature a children's artwork programme, or go into
the lecture room for a film presentation or programmed lecture.
The exterior walls and roof vaults are based on the rain screen
principle. The concrete, concrete block wall and concrete roof
vaults are faced with a mastic membrane, insulation and clad
with metal panelling. The wall cladding finish is a metallic
gunmetal blue and stainless steel imperial finish; the roof
cladding finish is enameled silver grey. The walkways and
retaining walls are constructed of dolomite from Wiarton, a grey
stone to blend with the wall finishes.
The gallery's interior walls in general are painted gypsum wall
board backed with plywood and wood strapping to allow
optimum exhibition flexibility. Display walls on the exterior walls
are free of the structural wall to allow free air movement in order
to prevent condensation on the display walls. The walls in the
central gallery are sand blasted exposed concrete, which lends a
raw effect.
The skylights and windows have been placed to capture the
changing ambiance of the natural light or to focus on a particular
view like the "Forks of the Thames." Art work is illuminated by
means of incandescent lighting fixtures mounted on a system of
overhead tracks. The system affords flexibility of fixture
location, orientation and light intensity and provides for
changing display requirements which range from the conven-
tional picture lighting system to the highlighting of intricate
sculpture work. The overhead lighting system is supplemented
by electrical outlets in the floor to permit lighting angles not
attainable from the overhead lights.
The gallery also boasts a very sophisticated new security
system with both intrusion alarms and fire alarm systems
including heat and smoke detectors. The system is constantly
monitored at a panel in the security office.
The handicapped and elderly patrons of the gallery also
haven't been forgotten. Elevators provide transportation to the
various levels of the galleries and washrooms and public
telephones have been designed for use by the handicapped.
The London Regional Art Gallery is already planning events to
bring the public into the new gallery.
One event they've already scheduled is a "Family Day" on
May 24. The day will begin with a parade at 12:30 p.m. and
includes something for everyone, regardless of age. Art buses
will transport gallery visitors from various parts of the city to the
forks of the Thames. Music will be provided by a Dixieland band,
and singing by the "Fred Folks" singers, 20 students from
London's Banting Secondary School.
There will also be a number of surprises for children visiting
the gallery. Portraits will be done by a local artist for a small fee,
there'll be public participation in creating a fibre sculpture in the
lower centre gallery and Theatre London personnel will be at the
gallery to "make up" anyone into a star.
After a guided tour through the gallery, refreshments will be
available. The afternoon will wind down around 4 p.m., when
visitors can take a leisurely stroll around the grounds or walk
through the park along the riverbank.
There is a wise saying - "to see is to believe." Visitors to the
gallery can do just that once they take the first step into the
future and experience all the new London Regional Art Gallery
has to offer.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/FEBRUARY 1980 PG. 5