South Granville unveils new street banner design by Glenn Payan

South Granville has championed the promotion of artists that are represented by the Gallery Row arts community since 1999 and our latest design is no exception. “South Granville has an incredible opportunity to draw inspiration from its local galleries. Time and time again, artists have been eager to share their talent and work with us to create memorable art that adds to our sense of place and perhaps simply cause a smile”, says Sharon Townsend, executive director of the South Granville Business Improvement Association (SGBIA).

“Banner art presents unique challenges, and finding the right artist with skills that can translate into public art is often more difficult than you might think. Not only does the art have to ‘read’ from a significant distance away, the techniques that are used must be replicated in a medium that is subject to fading, variations in light, and production constraints. South Granville has always found great art to share with the city of Vancouver. We believe our latest choice continues that legacy by offering a little whimsy, lots of colour, and a ‘no mistake’ Vancouver skyline”, says Townsend.

About the Artist: Glenn Payan
Born near Vancouver in 1962, Glenn Payan currently resides in Coquitlam, British Columbia, with his wife and four children. He has been a teacher in the Coquitlam district since 1985.

Glenn was an avid mountaineer and rock climber for many years; scaling a plethora of technical peaks and cliffs throughout BC, Alberta and the USA. Completely unaware that his future would be in the art world, Glenn would often sketch many of the mountain summits, glaciers, rock walls, forests and ridges he had visited, sometimes drawing his entire route up the peaks utilizing the landscape and many of the natural features of his ascent. Over the years, various factors encouraged him, as a family man, to throw his exuberant energy into developing his talents as an artist. Payan has maintained this deep-rooted love for the mountains, as evident in much of his artwork.

The subjects of many of Glenn’s paintings are colourful and, sometimes moody, whimsical landscapes: west coast and mountain villages, local Vancouver scenes and perched roadways winding along coastal waterways between majestic mountains. His obsession with the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, between Vancouver and Whistler, has produced many stunning pieces.

Payan has been featured at the Ian Tan Gallery since 2005. And there will be a feature exhibition of Glenn Payan’s work at the gallery from March 5-24, 2011.

For more information about Glann Payan and Ian Tan Gallery, please visit:

Ian Tan Gallery
2202 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 4H7
604-738-1077
www.iantangallery.com