Alex Mountain

After the proposal in the 70′s to demolish Gastown to make way for a super-highway into the downtown region, the city rallied around its historic center and pushed for its redevelopment from dereliction to a trendy cultural center. Water street was visioned as a tourist hot-spot, making use of the legend of Jack Gassy to encourage the growth of pubs, nightlife, and kitchy shops.  Consequently, Native Art and countless Canada and Olympic membrobiliia shops lining the length of Water Street; my usual route from Gastown to Downtown.  Streams of tourists passing through take pictures of the steam clock, stood around waiting for it’s toot on the quarter hour.  Hot dog stands, flower vendors, and cafe patios have taken over the sidewalks as the weather grows warmer.  Sat on a bench or step somewhere along Water Street, surrounded by wood carvings, is ‘Alex Mountain’. 

Alex Mountain

Alex was born and grew up in Vancouver, and has lived in the Gastown district for 8 years sculpting native art carvings.  Mountain learned the skill from his father and grandfather who both too sculpted native art, and nows sells intricately carved wooden feathers and poles made both by him and by his uncle.  His art sells at a much more affordable rate than any of the pricey Water Street Native Art boutiques, I recently bought two carvings off him for $30 to fill out my still largely unfurnished apartment.  In addition to being a great deal, it is refreshing to see some of Canada’s historical artistic heritage carried on by young individuals as a living.

Tagged as: Native art, Steam Clock, Water Street