Rennie Museum

A must see. Situated in the Heart of China town this impressive space is home to one of Vancouver's Icon Developers collection: Bob Rennie. Unlike many Museums' the Rennie is a guided tour with Q & A through out the walk. One would think the as it is free gallery that would be the best thing going. What is truly remarkable and the best experience happens at the end of the tour when one steps onto the roof top deck which not only houses art but houses a glimpse of the wonders of the Vancouver Sky line. A must see.

Love the idea of free guided tours. The art student providing the tour was knowledgeable of the artist's technique but not so much his motivstions for choosing certain techmiques to express his themes. Overall not bad and all the rotating exhibits were from the same artist so it gives me a reason to come back when the exhibition changes. Very quaint and walkable from Gastown. Well worth the time and $0 spent to pre-register.

The building itself is worth the visit. It's contemporary art, so get into it. Must book online quite a bit in advance, but free to get in.

Went to see the Kerry James Marshall exhibit. Beautiful, inspirational, and necessary if you are able to I highly recommend everyone check it out. The tour guide was exceptional and knowledgeable, glad I was able to experience this collection.

Fantastic exhibit in lovely old mansion in Chinatown. Book your free tickets in advance. Expect an hour to visit. The photographic exhibit on at the time of my visit has images I will never forget. Was not for the faint of heart but evocative. Would highly recommend

Tickets run out so fast online but definitely so worth especially for a FREE art museum. Very modern as a contrast to the rest of Chinatown. Pieces on display are very interesting and i found some very meaningful. Definitely recommend going up to the rooftop for a view

I love the idea of guide touring in private collections, but unfortunately this tour wasn't interesting. I had it in two different times and found it irrelevant and boring. The exhibition outside is impressive. You must go out, even if it cold, because there are 3 unique pieces.

I really loved this museum! I came for Yoko Ono's Mend exhibit and I found a lot of peace in the quiet space. You do have to book online in advance, but it's (usually?) free!

You have no idea what treasures both modern and historical live behind the unassuming doors facing Pender. But a couple of clicks on their website will unlock an hour long tour, complete with a peek at an old school room, a trounce down the old Market Alley, and a frolic on the rooftop where stunning views, sculptures and the famed "Everything is going to be alright" neon sign meet the sky. Our tour guide's name was Caroline and it was her very first day as a guide. She rocked it. The current exhibit features Amy Bessone and Thomas Houseago, husband and wife, with a colourful mixture of paint and sculpture. It was quite educational, friendly and refreshing, not to mention the space itself is impressive and inspiring. I wonder what a party would be like here.... magical?

I first heard about Bob "Condo King" Rennie's art collection in a Vancouver Sun article by John Mackie in October of 2009. While this collection and its space are a benefit to Vancouver, there are many things that I dislike about this new gallery. First, Bob Rennie is a tycoon trained in the art of selling, schmoozing and fabricating. This is not necessarily the type of person that I associate with the collecting of *good* artwork for public consideration. Second, this is a private gallery, and Rennie never lets you forget it. You must reserve a spot on a tour, which runs every Thursday during each particular show (there will be three per year). When you enter the historic Wing Sang building on East Pender, a clueless receptionist from Rennie Market Systems greets you in a tasteful yet corporate lobby and prompts you to sign a waiver, really hitting home the fact that the owner is not comfortable with the public all up in his bid'ness. Third, I read a quote from Rennie stating "The only goal [of the gallery] is that artists want to show there." This one sentence proves that the rejuvenation of the Downtown Eastside, the educating of the public, the supporting of BC arts and the meaning of the artwork come a distant second to the promotion of the Rennie brand. Despite the misdirected motives and corporate principles behind this gallery, I must admit that it is a valuable addition to East Pender. With the infamous Carnegie Centre just one block away and the sad architectural situation in Strathcona, this building demonstrates some of the ways in which neighbourhoods can be revitalized from the inside out. Of course, gutting heritage buildings and opening new, popular establishments within old and/or run-down neighbourhoods always comes with the risk of gentrification, but Rennie's conversion of the Wing Sang building succeeds as a symbol of both preservation and progression. Rennie has created a hidden lair of idiosyncratic artwork and commerce in one of the oldest parts of Vancouver, but at least his Ivory Condo fails to infiltrate the atmosphere and ethos of Chinatown. The gallery provides Rennie with a surprising amount of space, and an even more surprising amount of wall space. There is a small exhibition area of about 400 square feet on the groundfloor which is perfect for smaller pieces, such as photographs and canvases. The two primary rooms are on the "second floor". I use quotations here because the second floor is comprised of the the top three floors that were destroyed and transformed into exhibition space. There are basically two rooms upstairs, and the main room is actually too lofty in my opinion, but it does give Rennie and the curator(s) freedom to present larger installations. My favourite thing about the building is the way in which elements from the original interiors have been incorporated into the gallery space, such as raw brick wall and distressed wainscoting. I encourage you to visit the gallery for the architecture alone. Book your tour: office@renniecollection.org I just hope Rennie's Wing Sang project doesn't lead to a Starbucks opening within Sun Yat-Sen Garden!