An iconic 1960’s sculpture in exile was recently returned to Vancouver, as sculptor Jack Harman’s “The Family” becomes a permanent Biennale installation, now on view to the public on Granville Island.
The giant bronze sculpture, consisting of three figures: a father, who stands 12 feet-six inches and weighs 1,700 pounds; a mother with a baby in her arms, who is 11 feet-six inches tall and weighs 1,600 pounds; and a nine foot tall, 600 pound teenage boy.
Commissioned by former Vancouver Sun publisher Stu Keate in 1965, the sculpture, which stood outside the Pacific Press building at 2250 Granville Street from 1966 to 1997, caused great controversy as the teenage boy was naked, as the artist stated, representing “a new generation shedding the metaphorical clothing and baggage of the past.”
“The Family” had a temporary home following the sale of the old press building, but in 2015 went into storage. In 2019, when the Vancouver Sun announced it wanted to give the sculpture a new home, David McCann, who manages Creekhouse Industries on Granville Island, convinced The Sun and Province’s editor Harold Munro that Granville Island was the best fit, and the statue was moved there in May, 2020 to undergo restoration and seismic upgrading to the base of the sculpture by Granville Island artists Mike Vandermeer and Cheryl Hamilton, of i.e. creative. The project, funded entirely by Creekhouse Industries, now stands in the courtyard of the Creekhouse on Granville Island.
Further details on the history and installation can be found in this John Mackie article in the Vancouver Sun https://vancouversun.com/news/jack-harmans-family-returns-to-vancouver
