By: Anthony Shelton, Director, MOA
VANCOUVER.- MOA’s intention was to open doors for discussion about difficult issues that have a continuing and powerful resonance in Vancouver. Our decision to host the show, however, was predicated on further developing productive relationships with local community groups, First Nations, and academics, with whom we hoped to develop useful programming (such as talks, panel discussions, film screenings, other art exhibitions, performances, etc) through which the larger issues raised by the exhibition could be explored. Despite concerted efforts by staff and others in the past few months, it has become clear that the kind of productive dialogue we sought is unlikely to result from continuing with the exhibition: there are too many unresolved issues surrounding it, and serious concerns have been raised by some individuals and groups that by showing the paintings, we might cause further dist