Letters, Dec. 14, 2019: The Family statue needs a new home
Credit to Author: Carolyn Soltau| Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2019 02:00:12 +0000
Last week, reporter John Mackie wrote about how Jack Harman’s statue The Family needs a new home. Here are some of the suggestions The Vancouver Sun received:
I think the sculpture of The Family should be put in Stanley Park. That is the first place I think of when I think of families. Second Beach or Lumbermen’s Arch area would be fabulous.
Susan Lawless, Vancouver
Thank you for the article on my dad’s statue. I would like to see The Family placed at B.C. Children’s Hospital. It’s all about family there, and children do not feel disgusted or offended by nudity.
Melinda (Harman) Konings, Victoria
They look like a young family determined and strong, looking toward a new and hopeful future. They would look inspirational in front of the new art gallery “still to be built.”
Linda Carvajal, Bowen Island
A great spot for the sculpture would be in south Vancouver, along the path in the River District. The Family can face the Fraser River, perhaps toward YVR as they appear to be looking at the future — just like many newcomers who arrive in our beautiful city.
Our neighbourhood is sorely missing public art in our outdoor spaces — this piece would be a special focal point of pride and would have little competition. The sculpture would be admired and enjoyed by people who walk, run, picnic and play on the public path along the river. With the development of the last piece of waterfront property in Vancouver, south Vancouver has a growing population that would benefit from a piece of special public art.
Lynn Leong, Vancouver
Thank you, thank you, for a fantastic article. First choice for me would a location at B.C. Children’s Hospital. I grew up with the Harman family. This sculpture deserves to be brought out of storage and given a beautiful home for all to enjoy.
Lesley Cosco, Vancouver
Jack Herman’s The Family statue might look nice in front of the Electra building facing Nelson Street because it looks similar to the building it had been in front of on Granville Street and seems to work stylistically.
Jill Hasman, Vancouver
Thanks so much. I had wondered where they were. Yes, I hope they emerge soon, back to public life in Vancouver, where we have so little public art. They need space and attention, maybe near a new gallery, or English Bay near Dennis Oppenheim’s Engagement sculptures.
Dana Brynelsen, Halfmoon Bay
The Family is an iconic sculpture that graced the Vancouver landscape for 30-plus years. I used to walk past it every day on the way to work, and I, for one, miss it. It’s a shame The Family has been hidden in a Surrey storage locker all this time, depriving citizens of this fine city from seeing, admiring, and experiencing it.
A suggestion for a new location: Isn’t somewhere on the property of the existing art gallery the most logical place? Conversely, if and when the new art gallery is ever constructed, it should definitely find a permanent home there. The sooner it’s removed from storage, the better.
Rick Modien, Maple Ridge
The sculpture of The Family would be excellent on the Granville Bridge as a feature of the new pedestrian/bike way.
Judy Kirk, Vancouver
Clearly, The Family needs to be installed directly below Spinning Chandelier.
Kelly Rawlings, Vancouver
I think a great place would be any of the plaza spaces around the Vancouver Art Gallery. The sculpture would be a fine teaching focus.
Ted McGrath, Vancouver
I’ve just read your lovely article on Jack Harman’s The Family. I’m old enough to remember its original position in front of the old Sun building on Granville Street. I think a perfect spot for the sculpture is the plaza in front of the art gallery.
It deserves space surrounding it and would be viewed “in the round” instead of being seen only from the front. If the gallery people decline the suggestion, then a grassy slope at English Bay would be a nice spot too. The Family would be looking out to sea.
Sandra Grant, Vancouver
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