Looking Out Looking In

I love to go to Old Montreal - the old stone buildings, the cobblestone streets. I have gone to many concerts in Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours. Last night I got to be part of a concert. I got an inside view of Les Boréades, who invited the Société de Flûte à Bec de Montréal to join them. Fifteen members of the society rehearsed once a month and took part in the concert, playing the opening numbers of each half of the programme. We shared backstage with the professionals and watched as they prepared for the concert.



Last minute review, adding a few bowing marks, thinking about the intention of the music - all to make Bach speak eloquently through their instrumental voices.

We played - looking out at the audience and then joined them to enjoy the wonderful concert by the professionals. There is a vast difference in our playing (I have not spent years practising endlessly and living and breathing music) but our shared passion for music, for that one night had us share a stage. 

Painted Windows

Painted Windows, originally uploaded by susanvg.

When I moved into my home over 20 years ago, the windows between the kitchen and a small room which at one time had been a sun porch, were painted over. I bought the house from someone whose son had been in my class in high school. According to him, these two windows were painted by his father, the bottom two (not shown here) by his mother, one evening as they enjoyed some wine. The picture on the left is my house - though there are trees and houses nearby not shown here.

Somehow, they add to the history of the house.

Daily Shoot: Use a window or a door as a frame for your subject today in a photograph.

Jan 30/10: Windows

Jan 30/10: Windows, originally uploaded by susanvg.

My father was a self-made man. His father was a carpenter and my father had to quit high school to work with him to help support the family. Working weekends and summers he later finished high school at night and put himself through university. My father always saw windows not doors - possibilities not road blocks. He had an incredibly optimistic outlook.

He ultimately became a building developer and this is one of his projects. I know from stories people have told me, he was always honest and fair. He died 9 years ago this month, just shy of his 92nd (February) birthday. He has left brick and mortar legacies, but more importantly he has passed on his vision and values to his family and friends. I try to live up to his principles.

Day 148: Stairway

Day 148: Stairway, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Industrial architecture leaves me somewhat cold. However, I liked the variety of lines the stairs and windows made. I featured this building once before - another day that I had a meeting there.

It's not that I don't like minimalism. I love the smooth lines of wood and prefer Danish modern to a more ornate look in furniture. I think it is the coldness of metal that disturbs me. An irony of this place is that part of the building is built where there was a rather ornate apartment building. The facade of the building was left, so that from the street it appears to be an early 20th century building flanked by two modern structures. Things are not what they seem.