Saving The Rio

While a few people might get richer — the world will be all the poorer for it.

There are so few of both live venue and theatre art deco buildings left.

The few buildings that remain from this beautiful design era, where each structure is unique in appearance – are among the most valuable sources inspiration from the art deco period. These structures have continuously served as a massive source of inspiration for artists in many forms and genres of creativity.

If you’re not sure what art deco is — it’s a commonly drawn style of building in comic books and graphic novels [ A real life example is the Chrysler building ]. Art Deco period is 1925-1940 and revived in 1960’s for a time. [1]

While working on an illustration of the only known art deco theatre developers haven’t got their hands on in our local area, this came up via a retweet from J. Mewes.

[ if you don’t know who Mewes is - He’s Kevin Smith’s mate Jay — Kevin Smith aka Silent Bob, is the legend behind View Askew Productions - & creator of Jay & Silent Bob Strike back, Dogma, Mallrats, Clerks, Chasing Amy ... just follow both of them - then you can't miss ;D ]

THIS IS NOT A DRILL... We need your voice! Help us collect sigs and demonstrate #Vancouver support in saving the existing, historical, art-deco venue we know and love. Learn. Sign. Share. #GoLocal #SaveTheRio https://t.co/zhT9BskXT2 pic.twitter.com/ZFtSK1L4bt

— Rio Theatre (@RioTheatre) February 3, 2018

Every time one of these buildings is destroyed a mundane uninspired money machine / crap hole that looks like every other building tends take its place. ( cause it sure as shit won’t be a park )

While architects would probably disagree, and there are some beautiful modern buildings being created today — there feels a real ‘safety’ in much of todays architectural design. Nothing looks too different; at least not from a illustrative artists perspective.

While this may appease the average passer-by, the passer-by doesn’t really give a shit what a building looks like anyway. – Although there is something weirdly glorious about duck ( novelty ) architecture. [*Buildings that look like the things which they are for or relate to], for example the famous Basket building of the Longaberger Company in Newark, Ohio, USA.

Haynes B, Longaberger Basket Building, image (CC BY-SA 3.0)

There can be a case made for ‘learning from the past and making a building ‘timeless’.
Nothing is gonna be ‘timeless’ as illustrated by the distinct lack of huts and caves in your local area - And in learning from the past you really need to be able tosee the past in more than just old photographs of a time when people actually created artistically unique structures that were built as a place to congregate and enjoy.

It would truly be a shame if such a landmark as the Rio was reduced to “this used to be a beautiful building, both aesthetically and from the warmth of the people within - now it’s just another bleh - so what else is in the area that’s original ?” [ crickets ]

If your not a ‘looking at buildings’ kinda person and you’ve made it this far, consider one of the best movie lines to describe the current design era, the ever present truth expressed by Marv in Sin City when talking about how cars in the art deco and post modern era differ from todays – “Modern cars, they all look like electric shavers” — same deal here. [2]

There is a clause in the sale that states a cinema must be built within the space upon demolition of the old building. This totally isn’t the point though is it, so why bother making that clause ? good solid waste of time and money there — thought they were all doing this to get richer ;/

No one will care what is built there instead — especially if it’s a cinema, it works now because it’s warm, inviting and historical. ( this should be more obvious to developers than artists, seriously) History has its own feeling, its own sound; if you’ve ever been into a modern live venue you’ll know it doesn’t sound the same as one thats seen decades of traffic – Those that were built in an era where people made things not merely for dollars, but with pride — to last and be enjoyed.

Whatever replaces it might be as good as the Rio; but it's a big 'might' and as the rich get richer they will once again have destroyed a historical, original and beautiful community venue; never be able to be enjoyed or inspire people again - all for the sake of money.

Why not restore the existing building, boosting revenue, and let everyone enjoy a currently thriving theatre and live venue. The revenue of the place can enable self sufficiency continue to be self sufficient and maintain it’s beauty — this too would make money while NOT destroying a piece of inspirational history.

( For the developers to rationalise - ‘have you considered by saving a landmark you earn free good will advertising and local community support, for your other less popular projects’ ) Yes it may not be AS profitable, but it likely will make all your other projects doubly so. Do some math, see what you can do ;)

If you do want to support it, there was a petition, at the time of writing it was still active.

While the date has now passed (6/2/18) continuing support will always be taken into developers minds. If they know people want to keep it badly enough that it will eat into the developers bottom line - they might think twice before knocking it down — And they won’t know people still want it, unless we tell them.
*plus if it becomes more profitable to keep it and restore it, you can bet they will.

While we might never even get to see it, the tonnes of people who live there and love it will miss it, it’s memories and it’s historical and cultural significance if it gets destroyed.

If you would like to see the finished art deco illustration mentioned & currently in progress you can follow us https://twitter.com/mellinco13 for updates.

News coverage https://globalnews.ca/news/4006915/rio-theatre-sale-petition/

RIO website http://riotheatre.ca

While the time for the petition is now passed - at time of writing it is still active.
Link for it is here http://riotheatre.ca/save-the-rio/ & in J. Mews tweet — same link.

[1] Dictionary.com, n.1, art deco, < http://www.dictionary.com/browse/art-deco >

[2] F. Miller, R. Rodriguez, Q. Tarantino, 2005, Sin City, Troublemaker Studios
Dimension Films, (Miramax)

[3] Header image < http://riotheatre.ca/about/ >

[4] Haynes B, Longaberger Basket Building, image (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source < https://99percentinvisible.org/article/lessons-sin-city-architecture-ducks-versus-decorated-sheds/ >