Just for laughs
They're large, they laugh and they make up one of the most popular sculptures this city has enjoyed.
The laughing figures that make up the A-maze-ing Laughter installation at Morton Park, right across the road from English Bay, have been amusing residents and visitors for two years. I have to admit they always make me smile, particularly when I watch fans posing in front of one of the 14 giant bronze statues, each frozen in a perpetual grin.
The non-profit Vancouver Biennale, which brought the installation to Vancouver, wants A-mazeing Laughter to remain in the city.
The artist seems willing to work with the organization to make that happen. In fact, Chinese artist Yue Min-jun has offered to drop his asking price from $5 million to $1.5 million.
It's standard that all sculptures exhibited as part of a Biennale festival be sold after two years, but organizers say the response to A-mazeing Laughter has been so overwhelming it's attempting to raise the money to purchase it. A-maze-ing Laughter would remain on loan to the city for up to 30 years.
Vancouver Biennale is hoping anyone who loves A-maze-ing Laughter will be willing to part with a little cash to make that happen.
The non-profit has launched the Power of $5 Donations campaign, which allows donors to give $5 by texting the message "art" to 45678.
Donations can also be made on its website vancouverbiennale.com.
Trophy trout
The brand new Trout Lake Community Centre opens Jan. 16 and registration for classes is on now. The centre will also offer free classes Jan. 16 to 22. And that's all I've got. I've requested a tour prior to the opening so the Courier can provide a photo gallery to show readers the building, which I hear is spectacular, so stay tuned.
iParks
There's a new application available for use on iPhones, the iPod touch or iPad to help residents and visitors navigate their way through Vancouver's park system.
The free Vancouver Parks app offers basic information, such as location, on more than 200 city parks and allows users to create a list of favourites. Each park has its own page, which provides a list of its amenities and facilities, photos, and a way to provide feedback as well as access the park board's Facebook and Twitter accounts while on the go. The Vancouver Parks app can be downloaded directly from iTunes App Store (search "Vancouver Parks").
Water world
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre has been selected to host the ninth International Aquarium Congress in 2016, the same year as the facility's 60th anniversary.
The congress, the most recognized international event within the aquarium and marine science industry, is expected to bring about 1,500 leading practitioners and scientists from almost 45 countries to Vancouver in 2016.
The congress has been held at various locations around the world every four years since its inception in 1960.
The event provides the scientific community with the latest on marine life research and provides an opportunity to discuss global and local issues and share successful initiatives.
This year the congress is being held in Cape Town, South Africa.
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