If you’re looking to see some amazing art in-person, look no further than Stanley Park. This popular attraction receives over eight million visitors a year and its area spans over four kilometres squared. The culture-rich grounds of Stanley Park has many iconic pieces of art, but perhaps most famously is the totem pole display in Brockton Point. Located on the most easterly part of Stanley Park, this area has totem poles of various sizes and demeanors. The park was once the home of Indigenous people and their culturally significant artwork is displayed with utmost respect throughout.

ArtTower. “Totems Stanley Park.” 2012. JPG file. / Pixabay

One of my personal favorites is the Stanley Park environmental art walk. This eight kilometre stroll features a display of art that were made using only environmental resources and practices. Although the natural decomposition of these works is inevitable, the beauty is that there are constantly new environmental artworks that are able to be displayed.

Some of the environmental artworks include but are not limited to:

• “Listen” – A carving of a hut made from a circular piece of wood.
• “Cozy” – Woven discs on a tree trunk
• “Two Spirits” – Carvings of two faces into a tree trunk
• “K’Ayacht’n!” – Groups of various different art pieces from different artists

In my opinion the greatest piece of art of all time in Stanley Park is the Chehalis Cross, which is also located in Brockton Point. It is there to remember the eight people who died at sea after their small wooden steam ship the Chehalis was run over by a bigger boat. The names of those killed are carved onto the base of the cross. Every time I go to Stanley Park, I always go to Chehalis Cross and give a moment of silence for those who perished in the tragedy.