The Secret Bench by sculptor, Lea Vivot always makes me smile. One thing I love about art in public spaces is the way people interact with it. While I was enjoying a public photography exhibit, a couple of people sat down on the bench and posed for photographs. Meanwhile across the street, someone was posing with another sculpture. Instead of the "do not touch" mentality of museums there is a sense of touch, enjoy and participate.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sept 5/10: Double Rainbow
It's so important to stop in those moments to appreciate the ephemeral events. Rainbows are special for their fleeting existence.
I think as I start the school year with its frenzy of work I have to remind myself to stop and just enjoy the moment. There may not be a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but there is a golden moment when you take the time to appreciate it.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sept 4/10: Almost Home
I love to travel, as anyone following this blog must realize. But there is something special about coming home again. This photograph was taken through the train window as we approached the station. I love the feeling of recognizing landmarks whether by plane or train as I get closer to the destination. By now, I know that planes approach from the east; if you are on the left side of the plane you can see the Olympic stadium, the oratory and eventually the highway near the airport. I watch for this. On the train from the west I know the area as we approach Montreal Island and each suburb has its landmarks that mean we are getting closer. This time I approached from the north east (though with our crazy mixed up directions in Montreal we came over the bridge from the South Shore) and headed into downtown. The tall office towers greeted us.
I'm home. And ready to enjoy the life that offers: a cat on my lap, food cooking in the oven, and friends nearby with whom to share my many travel stories.
Sept 3/10: Church in Gesgapegiag
A lot of time to kill before a train home, I meandered through the coast, stopping for photographs, to stroll, to explore. I stopped in Gespapegiag, the Mi'kmaq reservation. Most of Canada's aboriginal people are Christian, It is nice to see that they have made way in this to celebrate their own way, to bring their culture to their spiritual home.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gaspesian Sunset
Minute by minute the colours in the sky changed, at first a fiery orange then moving through mauves and pinks. Moments of magic as darkness descended.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Sept 1/10 New Richmond
The southern side of the Gaspé peninsula sits on Baie des Chaleurs. While the French were the first Europeans to settle here, the Mik'maq were already here. Bonaventure, the town in which I'll be giving workshops is celebrating its 250th anniversary. The Acadian flag is seen everywhere (Acadians are the original French settlers).
Some towns have larger English populations. Unfortunately, there is high unemployment in the area as the fishing industry has suffered a decline, the forestry industry is also facing challenges and mining, too has seen mine closures.
But as a place to visit - there are many charms as you drive the coast.
Aug 31/10: Fossils in Miguasha
I managed a short visit to Miguasha - here is one of the fossils from the museum. This is a World Heritage site - with some of the best fossils found in the world. Dating from the Devonian period and later there are splendid examples. What is really remarkable are the fossils they found that had fins with bones like precursors to hands and feet - the tetrapods. They are a step from fish to the vertebrates that came onto land.
Fern Fossil
I'm fascinated by the movement of our land masses. Last year's trip to Newfoundland whetted my interest as I learned about its geology. This year's visit to the Badlands and now Miguasha has only piqued my interest further.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)