Thursday, December 12, 2013

Anishinabe Scout

There's another statue in Major's Hill Park, looking to the west. This is an Anishinabe scout, one of the local First Nations tribes. The sculpture once stood at the base of the Champlain monument, over on nearby Nepean Point (I've shown that one to you before.


The statue was moved here where it still looks out over the Ottawa River (you can see the river through the grasses in the first shot) out of cultural sensitivities that it rendered the scout inferior to Champlain at its original location. Ironically, the statue had a better view over on the Point.


This statue can be found at the north end of the park, close to this building below. The groundskeeper's house is a small one, and these days plays host to a rotating group of artists on weekends from May into October. It's across from the National Gallery, where the work on replacing glass in the tower continues. I last showed you the Gallery in this post. I took this shot several weeks ago, and there's even more of the tower now exposed from the iceberg canvas that has encased it all summer.


20 comments:

  1. It's a fine statue and I guess some issues are still very raw...

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  2. Interesting piece of history. Makes me wonder what's his story and why they set up a statue for him.

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  3. The second picture brings out all the details so clearly.

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  4. interesting...and the statue is very impressive

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  5. This is one of the best statues you've featured so far....

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  6. What a handsome fellow. Not you, the scout.

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  7. @Ciel: the reasons are understandable, and here the sculpture gets to have the spotlight to itself.

    @Angelika: if I recall, the sculpture pairing of Champlain and the scout was meant to convey Champlain's good relationship with First Nations peoples. Unfortunately by having the scout at the base of the monument, it doesn't really give us a working partnership.

    @Stuart: the sculptor really did fine work with it.

    @Haddock: I wanted the over the shoulder point of view shot, but the profile one works best.

    @Tanya: thank you!

    @Norma: I'll have to come over here again in January or February and take it again for the winter's effect

    @Eve: thank you... I think!

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  8. Another one nice collection of picts. Greetings.

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  9. That is the most unusual scaffolding cover that I've ever seen. I love the statue.

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  10. He has an impressive musculature! Very nice.

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  11. The grasses make a perfect setting for the scout!

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  12. A super sculpture showing real strength. Most interesting background information.

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  13. @Inna: thank you!

    @Karl: it's certainly drawing attention here!

    @Sharon: the work had to be done replacing the glass in the tower, and since it's an art gallery, they decided to go with something artistic. I've enjoyed seeing it.

    @Barbara: sounds like he's getting very much attention!

    @RedPat: I think so!

    @Lauren: thank you!

    @Cheryl: thanks!

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  14. The rays of light on that first photo beautifully outline the sculpture, but the second one shows the intricate details on this work of art. Very nice.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  15. Unique sculpture. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. @Linda: thanks!

    @Genie: thank you very much.

    @Gunn: you're welcome!

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