Great Northern Way Scene Shop

With the opening of the Learning Lab at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, we can finally reveal our work on this amazing and nationally important exhibit. Let's start with this: Our scenic painters were instrumental in recreating the look and feel of another era. This level of painting requires tremendous skill; eyes are right up close (unlike in the theatre) and the demand for authenticity is paramount.

Block aging creates a cohesive and convincing overall read while supporting the interpretive and aesthetic goals of the exhibit. It helps avoid surfaces appearing artificially “decorated” with isolated aging details and instead creates the impression of authentic material history and environmental interaction.

Glazing refers to the application of a thin, translucent layer of paint or tint over a finished surface to subtly adjust its colour, depth, tone, or visual texture without completely covering the underlying work. It's often one of the final refinement stages of scenic finishing, helping transform painted surfaces from flat or newly fabricated appearances into more dimensional, atmospheric, and convincing environments.

GNW's scenic painting professionals are highly skilled at all levels of finishing. They're probably the first ones to say, "If you see the paint job, then we didn't do our job."

It's been months of intense work and the payoff is stunning. We can't wait to share the evolution of the Learning Lab at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre...

Thanks to for covering this story about the demise of the Ghost Train, produced by , an annual theatrical treat that GNW proudly worked on for years. As mentioned in the article, "Mortal Coil employed over 60 artists, and an additional 30 aspiring actors from high schools in Vancouver and across the Lower Mainland." That's employment of local talent and a unique cultural offering, gone.

https://www.vancitylookout.com/p/everything-has-its-life-the-end-of-the-stanley-park-train?utm_source=www.vancitylookout.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=stanley-park-train&_bhlid=bc323b438a8cf02cabe5340f3da373c427101a31

We were lucky to be a part of this piece -- construction drawings and fabrication -- and it's tremendously satisfying to hear about its success.

Congratulations to artist Abbas Akhavan, who is representing Canada at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opening to the public today!

Already named one of the best pavilions of 2026 by Art Newspaper, Akhavan’s work “stands out for its unassuming zen, and for the thoughtful way in which it touches on both a very particular moment in history and a much deeper time.”

Can’t make it to Venice? Experience Akhavan’s work at the Gallery starting May 14 in the highly anticipated exhibition “Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change,” the first of its kind in Canada.

Plan your visit now at https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/future-geographies/



Image: Abbas Akhavan, LOOP, 2023, lumber, rocks, water, pond membrane, geocell boxes, water pump, tubing, chromakey paint and newsprint, Courtesy of the Artist and Catriona Jeffries, Photo: Rachel Topham Photography

Maybe this feels a little self-congratulatory? But we really do mean it when we say "All projects, all budgets, all sizes" -- and our clients appreciate the quick turnaround, which our flexibility usually allows.

O'Neills is a global brand that just launched a Vancouver store. GNW provided construction services for key assets that included AV & LX integration. Swipe to see a couple of BTS shots (and let us know if we're being too cheeky on the third pic).