Monday, January 21, 2008

2007: Landmark Love Nest Demolished

On Dec. 6, the wrecking crews went to work on one of BC architect Arthur Erickson’s most world-renowned and influential houses, a grand sequence of portals and frames elegantly descending down a Horseshoe Bay cliffside. This 1963 house for David Graham was featured on the pages of Life magazine and leased as a love nest to Warren Beatty and Julie Christie when in town to shoot Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller.

Monday, January 7, 2008

2008: Paderewski's Piano Unveiled

The celebrated Paderewski Grand Piano belonged to Ignacy Jan Paderewski; a famous Polish pianist, composer, and former third Prime Minister of Poland. The piano was built in New York in 1880, and purchased by Paderewski for use on his North American Tour. That tour ended in Vancouver, where in 1910 Paderewski sold the piano to the Marquis of Anglesey (who established the village of Walhachin). For the next 50 years the piano was played during concerts at the Walhachin Community Hall. In 1961, the piano was presented to the UBC school of Music, and in 2007 transferred to new custodians in the form of the Paderewski Heritage Committee, in order that it be preserved and maintained for its significant historical interest and value.
The refurbished piano was unveiled at a special recital of the musician's work at the Polish Embassy in Vancouver, on January 10th, 2008.