Boat Cluster, False Creek, Vancouver by Jack Beder captures a bustling "marina" during the 1970s. Colourful boat clusters are docked in the foreground, framed by the iconic Granville Street Bridge and distant mountains. The boats are in various hues - bright and saturated greens, oranges, reds, and blues against a cooler palette of industrialized build and haziness of sky. Its beginnings of industrialization showed through an under bridge built in wood and dock posts. Beyond the boats and bridge, a serene contrast in lavender depicts mountains. This background provides a beautiful contrast that is powerful in person. The water reflection shows the vibrant hues of the boats, confident and expressive, emphasizing the finer details. Coastal energy is an enjoyable theme in Beder’s paintings, with his travels to Vancouver frequenting at a higher rate from his daughter's enrolment in British Columbia University, Simon Fraser. A rhythmic depiction of the Canadian waterfront as lived and observed. As a historical document, this painting preserves a moment in Vancouver's development, making it valuable for both art enthusiasts and those interested in the city's history.

This piece was displayed in our Rookleys exhibition, Jack Beder: Life and Art in Canada.