Spirit Wrestler Gallery
Spirit Wrestler Gallery
5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
A leading contemporary fine art gallery representing master Inuit, Northwest Coast and Māori artists. The gallery focuses on exhibitions that showcase contemporary directions in aboriginal art, including cross-cultural communication, the use of new materials (such as glass and metal), and modern interpretations of shamanism, environmental concerns, and other issues pertaining to the changing world.
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The area
Neighbourhood: Gastown
A visit to Gastown is like turning back the clock and stepping into a bygone era. With the distinction of being Vancouver's oldest neighborhood, the many plaques that stud the cobbled streets of Gastown tell the story of its colorful past, giving Vancouver's history a more lively presence here than anywhere else. Having been originally founded around a popular worker's saloon, it's no wonder that today some of Vancouver's best micro-breweries, creative cocktail joints, and corner bars can be found in this area. Classical charm suffuses its many vintage boutiques and the brick-built structures that an army of creative professionals call home.
How to get there
- Waterfront • 7 min walk
- Stadium–Chinatown • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
47 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
7
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
TravelTurtle66
Massachusetts192 contributions
May 2011
An outstanding gallery featuring the work of leading Northwest coast artists, including Haida Artist Robert Davidson, one of Canada's most respected and important contemporary artists, and features a large collection of Susan Point and others as well. Works run from the hundreds of dollars to the tens of thousands. Every piece regardless of price is outstanding. Staff is very friendly and wiling to spend as much time as you like educating you on Northwest coast art without you every feeling pressured in any way.
Written May 21, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lenora H
Vancouver, Canada106 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
The Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Gastown at 47 Water St. Vancouver features 1st Nations, Inuit & NZ Maori art. I had the pleasure of attending the Wero:Pacific Challenge(Sept 20-Oct 11,2014) in celebration of their 15th Anniversary, representing NZ(Aotearoa)Maori Art. What a thrill to see the works of 3 leading Maori Artists, Rex Homan, Lewis Tamahana Gardiner & Todd Couper. Rex had previously showcased birds in his 2 solo exhibitions-Raven Dreaming,2012, & The Birds of Tane,2008.At the Wero:Pacific Challenge he has included a delightful figure performing the Haka, the traditional Maori war challenge, now performed prior to an All Blacks Rugby game & another fine fellow called Once Were Warriors.
Todd Couper participated in the 2003 Kiwa:Pacific Connections.This time at Wero his God of the Forest Tane Mahuta showed off his cheeky tattoo on his rump while in a gymnastic pose. His Spirit of the Boar carved in Totara honours Capt.Cook who introduced pigs to the Maori diet.Wild pork cooked in a Maori Hangi or earth oven is rich & delicious.
Lewis Tamahana Gardiner is an amazing innovative greenstone(pounamu)or jade & bone artist. His previous exhibits were Moon Mothers: Keepers of Knowledge,2010, & Fire & Water:Pacific Visions in Glass & Jade,2007.His large jade masks Te Mana o Hinetuahoanga, The Prestige of Hinetuahoanga also had horse hair & NZ flax fibre.Hinetuahoanga(sandstone) is honoured by Maori since her material created pounamu into jade treasures. I noticed a couple wearing Lewis Gardiner's intricate pendants.
Kia Ora-thank you!
Todd Couper participated in the 2003 Kiwa:Pacific Connections.This time at Wero his God of the Forest Tane Mahuta showed off his cheeky tattoo on his rump while in a gymnastic pose. His Spirit of the Boar carved in Totara honours Capt.Cook who introduced pigs to the Maori diet.Wild pork cooked in a Maori Hangi or earth oven is rich & delicious.
Lewis Tamahana Gardiner is an amazing innovative greenstone(pounamu)or jade & bone artist. His previous exhibits were Moon Mothers: Keepers of Knowledge,2010, & Fire & Water:Pacific Visions in Glass & Jade,2007.His large jade masks Te Mana o Hinetuahoanga, The Prestige of Hinetuahoanga also had horse hair & NZ flax fibre.Hinetuahoanga(sandstone) is honoured by Maori since her material created pounamu into jade treasures. I noticed a couple wearing Lewis Gardiner's intricate pendants.
Kia Ora-thank you!
Written September 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill W
Sausalito, CA68 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
While the Spirit Wrestler Gallery always has a fine collection of art work, its main claim to fame is the breadth of knowledge possessed by those who own and run the gallery. There is a story behind every piece of art in the place and, if you let them, you will hear each one in detail. Take your time here and the learning experience will be rewarding.
Written August 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
justchillin041
Vancouver, Canada68 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
I am familiar with Spirit Gallery. I have followed them to a couple of locations and purchased art from them. This gallery is the real deal. Not like some of the "native artworks," places in downtown vancouver where the stuff comes from asian countries or from non-native contributors. The Spirit Gallery deals only with native artists and deals with them fairly. The folks who work here are very knowledgeable and really more like curators and historians of aboriginal works of art. If you want to take home a piece of real canadian aboriginal artwork, this is a reputable dealership. They also have touring shows by native artists from other countries like New Zealand.
Written May 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mimits2015
Palo Alto, CA9 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
We first stumbled on this gallery several years ago. We walked in, with no intention of buying anything, and walked out with a Susan Point print. The collection is absolutely first-rate, the gallery owners/crew extremely knowledgable yet approachable. Fantastic art, fair prices, heads and shoulders above most galleries. We've been back several times (we live in the Bay Area) and have added several other pieces, both prints and sculptures. This place is fantastic. Go out of your way to visit!
Written March 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lost_in_the_ozone
North Vancouver77 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
Not just in Vancouver, I mean in the world.
A wide body of work represting some of the biggest names in contemporary First Nations art. The people who run the place are also the owners and each has a specfic area of expertise.
A wide body of work represting some of the biggest names in contemporary First Nations art. The people who run the place are also the owners and each has a specfic area of expertise.
Written April 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lenora H
Vancouver, Canada106 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Such a thrill to return to the Spirit Wrestler Gallery, at the new location,101-1669 W.3rd Ave.,Vancouver,BC (604-669-8813) & see NZ Maori artist Rex Homan's 3rd solo-show, "Fins & Feathers" April28-May19, 2018, honouring creatures of the sea & the air. This time the 25 beautiful sculptures are on a smaller scale.
The black,white & red Raven, carved from recycled Kauri, with hematite eyes, is poised in flight.
"The Maki-Orca Hunting" is the Killer Whale, popular also in First Nation's carving.
"The Tangaroa(God of the Sea & its Creatures)" has the Great White Shark (Mango Tuatini) swimming over his tattooed head.
The Adelies Penguin" is " ready for take off" with his friends,
"The Kawau-Cormorant" points his head proudly towards the heavens!
Thank you Rex Homan for bringing New Zealand's creatures to Vancouver, Canada.
The black,white & red Raven, carved from recycled Kauri, with hematite eyes, is poised in flight.
"The Maki-Orca Hunting" is the Killer Whale, popular also in First Nation's carving.
"The Tangaroa(God of the Sea & its Creatures)" has the Great White Shark (Mango Tuatini) swimming over his tattooed head.
The Adelies Penguin" is " ready for take off" with his friends,
"The Kawau-Cormorant" points his head proudly towards the heavens!
Thank you Rex Homan for bringing New Zealand's creatures to Vancouver, Canada.
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lenora H
Vancouver, Canada106 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
The Spirit Wrestler Gallery has moved to #101-1669 West 3rd Ave Vancouver, BC Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 604-669-8813
Don't miss this wonderful collaboration of 2 fine artists, Lewis Gardiner, a NZ Maori, who specializes in jade (pounamu) & Preston Singletary, a 1st Nations Tlingit glass artist, from Seattle, on view from 9-30 Sept.2017.
Many cultures acknowledge the relationships between man, whale & sea. Maori believe that the whale is a child of Tane, once a land mammal, who now enjoys freedom in the ocean. The "Nasilne Whale Rider" is a 1st Nation cultural hero, who created the Killer Whale to take revenge on his brother-in-law.
"Haka Warrior". The Haka traditional war dance was originally performed prior to going into battle. My favorite part of a NZ rugby game is the energetic Haka performed prior to a game.
"Tradition Transformed" has a traditional Maori "Moko" face carved in jade & a 1st Nation design in the new glass medium.
This exhibition of NZ Maori & Northwest 1st Nations art is exquisite.
Don't miss this wonderful collaboration of 2 fine artists, Lewis Gardiner, a NZ Maori, who specializes in jade (pounamu) & Preston Singletary, a 1st Nations Tlingit glass artist, from Seattle, on view from 9-30 Sept.2017.
Many cultures acknowledge the relationships between man, whale & sea. Maori believe that the whale is a child of Tane, once a land mammal, who now enjoys freedom in the ocean. The "Nasilne Whale Rider" is a 1st Nation cultural hero, who created the Killer Whale to take revenge on his brother-in-law.
"Haka Warrior". The Haka traditional war dance was originally performed prior to going into battle. My favorite part of a NZ rugby game is the energetic Haka performed prior to a game.
"Tradition Transformed" has a traditional Maori "Moko" face carved in jade & a 1st Nation design in the new glass medium.
This exhibition of NZ Maori & Northwest 1st Nations art is exquisite.
Written September 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gordon332
Coquitlam, Canada2 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
We have visited the gallery a number of times over the past 20 years and have followed it from location to location because of the work available and the advice given. We would not hesitate to recommend this gallery and ts fine, knowledgable staff to people who have an interest in the variety of indigenous work they carry. Thank you Gary, Derek and Nigel for the help and hospitality you always have shown us.
Written February 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SkiNik10
Whistler, Canada154 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
After 30 years in GasTown, Spirit Wrestler is moving but, fortunately for all of us, relocating to W. 3rd near Granville Island. Every time I visit the gallery I see beautiful works of art from some of the world's best aboriginal artists. The staff are welcoming, professional and very knowledgeable. Were I a wealthy person, I would have no problem selecting a variety of works to take home...this time I found a beautiful Haida silver copper pendant and am happily wearing it. Worth a visit just to see museum quality pieces.
Written September 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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