From
the Museum of Fine Arts/Houston to the Van Gogh museum
in Amsterdam, many art museums try, themselves, to
be works of art. The Winnipeg Art Gallery is one of
the few that succeeds. It can be imagined that the
WAG is rising like a shark fin out of the prairie,
if it weren't located in one of the busiest sections
of town. While the building is not, the institution
is the oldest public art gallery in western Canada,
having been founded in 1912. It started as a simple
gallery in two rooms of the old Federal Building on
Main street, but as the city thrived, the gallery
quickly outgrew its home. Moving to what is now the
Manitoba Archives Building gave it more space, and
the ability to further its goal of civilizing the
prairie boomtown. It wasn't until the 1960's that
the WAG contemplated moving to its next home. The
one it has now finally opened in 1971. Like the Legislative
Building, it is constructed of Manitoba Tyndall limestone.
And like most galleries, it features exhibition space,
an auditorium, and a gift shop. But it also has a
wonderful rooftop sculpture garden. This is the perfect
place to take a break after viewing one of the finest
art collections in North America.
