Monday, September 28, 2015

Stepping Back Through History

The Museum of History also had an exhibit going on when I last visited on the thirty years leading up to Canadian Confederation in 1867. I didn't notice the no photos sign until after leaving the exhibit (sorry!), but shot a handful of images. This bust matches one I showed a few days ago at Rideau Hall- Lord Elgin, a governor general during that period, and I liked the way the light fell on it.


These two chairs caught my eye, and were a bit of a challenge to photograph, what with refraining from using the flash.


While this last display deals with the issue of the Fenians, the Irish-Americans who in the aftermath of the Civil War launched repeated raids across the border in their efforts to try to hold Canada ransom and force the British out of Ireland.


Back out in the Grand Hall among the totem poles, I came across the place being set up for an evening function. This space is often used for dinners, receptions, and official occasions, something it's rather ideal for.


Upstairs in the entrance hall is this massive crest, which at one point hung in Toronto, at the main post office, where what is now the Air Canada Centre now stands (and where the Toronto Maple Leafs regularly blow the hockey season and break the hearts of their fans over and over and over again). There must have been at least two of these- another one stands in the vicinity of the ACC, as I understand it.


Outside, and along the curatorial wing of the Museum, is a Japanese zen garden.

38 comments:

  1. I love that first shot, sanctioned or not. It's a real beauty. (You're so right about the challenges of shooting in museums.) The Japanese garden looks wonderful.

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  2. This looks like such an interesting place to visit. I adore that first shot - the lighting and the reflection.. very dramatic

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  3. What an interesting mix of things in your post.

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  4. INteresting information about the crest. I always find it hard to believe the Leafs have any fans left!

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  5. Love the bits of history and the nice photos!

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  6. I remember that hall with the totem poles, it looks pretty this way to have a diner there.

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  7. One could feel rather self-conscious sitting in a chair like that. :-)

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  8. Finally getting around to catching up with everyone after being away for 3 weeks.
    I'd be interested in the Fenian display. I think I have seen that crest around the ACC, will have to look through my photos.

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  9. I'm surprised they didn't have someone watching for people taking photos. Whenever I see those "no photos" signs, there are usually people about to make sure you don't take photos.

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  10. Hi William,

    I went to the Montreal Holocaust Museum a few years ago, and I also didn't see the "no photos" sign in a certain part of that museum and got a bunch of photos as well, so don't feel badly. :) When I was leaving I spoke to the gentleman at the entrance and told him how touched I was by the museum and its artifacts. It was then that I heard him tell some newly arriving visitors that they were allow to photograph everything in the museum except the one section. Too late for me.

    Your series here is great, that crest is amazing, too.

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  11. Very beautiful photo takes.

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  12. Canadians don't seem to bother with pre confederation history. It is fascinating stuff. We could have gone many different directions at that time.

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  13. A lot of history here, William !

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  14. @Cloudia: it certainly is!

    @Kay: I've photographed the garden before, but never for the photoblog. I figured I ought to do it now, because I don't know if I'm there before they close that area off for the winter.

    @Aimee: I was quite pleased with that particular shot.

    @Linda: thank you!

    @Halcyon: right about now Leafs fans have forgotten how badly last season went, and are saying yet again "this is our year!"

    @VP: thank you!

    @Marianne: I remember coming into the museum one year in the evening, and seeing an official dinner going on down there. It's quite a lot of work setting it up.

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  15. @Revrunner: definitely!

    @Jackie: I think RedPat featured it not long ago too.

    @Sharon: the same day I took these, I was at the exhibit on ancient Greece too, and asked the person at the entrance, who said no shots. There was a security fellow on duty in that hall, but no one in here, and I didn't see a sign until I was leaving!

    @Linda: thank you!

    @Carolann: thanks!

    @Red: it was a complicated, but compelling time for us.

    @Karl: indeed!

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  16. If you had seen the no photos sign, we would get to see these interesting picture. Surprise that there was no one to stop you.

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  17. Love the grounds and your photos, William. We do usually look for the no photo signs, but if they are not prominent, my hubby would be snapping photos.

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  18. Great pic of the first bust! This could be the year for our beloved Leafs! ;-))

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  19. Stunning sculpture capture: shadows and light.

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  20. Those chairs are very eye-catching, especially in the dark red surroundings. Love the hall with totem poles. They sure make a beautiful and unique atmosphere! And I love zen garden..so soothing :-)

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  21. I didn't realize the museum is used for official functions. I LOVE the first photo!

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  22. A very interesting museum, one I would love to explore and the outside area is lovely.

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  23. i enjoy the old chairs ... if only i had a home that would look great with something similar. very cool. ( :

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  24. That is such dramatic lighting on the bust, wonderful picture, I'm glad you didn't notice the no photography sign...

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  25. @Nancy: I'm pleased that I didn't see the sign!

    @Linda: I would generally respect the rules of no photography, had I seen the sign, but in this case, it worked.

    @RedPat: ah, but it's not going to happen this year either!

    @Birdman: I was so pleased by how that bust turned out.

    @Tamago: the garden is very peaceful. I've felt that way every time I've stepped up that staircase to see it.

    @EG: it's a wonderful setting for official functions.

    @Denise: it's a beautiful museum, even as it goes through a re-working of the permanent exhibits. I hope when that's done that the museum doesn't reflect the wishes of the prick in the PMO office, since his government pretty much demanded the overhaul.

    @Beth: they were both big chairs... one would need a big room!

    @Geoff: I'm thinking that bust shot might be one of my favourites of the year.

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  26. Amazing array of photos. Love the entrance hall with totems!

    Janis
    GDP

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  27. I loved those ornate chairs. Zen gardens always make me think someone forgot to plant something that should be there. If I want to look at rocks, I can go out in the desert.

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  28. I would love to have a Japanese zen garden - but it would be too much raking.

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  29. That looks quite a place to visit. I had to read up on the Fenians as I have never heard of them. Looks like they united Canada something they never set out to do

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  30. The light and reflections on the top shot are great. Wonderful shot!

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  31. @Janis: I do too.

    @Mari: a zen garden's very rare here.

    @Debs: a whole lot of raking!

    @Bill: they really did- something they didn't expect.

    @Jose: thank you!

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  32. You've done a great job making those first photos without flash.
    I like that garden.

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  33. Quite a varied collection of photos today.

    Thanks for your visits while I was in France. Sorry that I was unable to visit your blog while I was away. Free time was scarce and the internet access was terrible!

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  34. All you have taken is so interesting. My Granddaughter Melissa her boyfriend is

    involved with taking sport shots of the baseball and the hockey teams. That is his job. Commercials that excite the crowd. Seeing you have mentioned the Hockey.

    Doing highlights of the games. He did one two weeks ago. The one slam where there was a score at the end with this new guy they have hired for Toronto. The one who is getting praise for his pucks getting in to the net. For Toronto.

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  35. @Jan: I do too.

    @Jack: thanks!

    @Linda: definitely.

    @Carolann: thank you.

    @Whisk: I think it's distinctive.

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