Stunning art and architecture

You sensed this the moment you stepped into the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia -  both stunning art and architecture.  While Bill Reid's creation sculpture, "The Raven and the First Men", is the monumental centrepiece, the wow factor started right at the entrance to the museum.

"The Raven and the First Men" by Bill Reid (laminated yellow cedar)

This awesome carved panel with masks of the sun and the moon welcomed you at the entrance.  And you just knew that it would be good.

Very close to the carved panel is this remarkable Haida cedar bentwood chest (circa 1870)

You turned to move forward but stood still, gawking at this stunning Great Hall...

There was no other choice, you had to see this...

Grand and towering...and yet, when you turned into the Bill Reid rotunda, you found yourself staring at this most exquisite carving - the raven box.  Your jaw dropped further...

and on and on it went

This, believe it or not, is a "house dish" - for feasts.  I think I remember seeing something like this in New Zealand, in the land of the Maoris.

Before you leave, you had to go back to the Great Hall one more time - just to sit there and gape.

Then take yourself outside to the log house

Turn back to look at the outside of the museum and you'd notice the resemblance...

almost a mirror image - the modern museum and the log house.

How clever of Arthur Erickson!  Wow!