Thursday, September 8, 2016

Portraits Of Character

I've switched out banner images as of yesterday evening, what with fall soon coming. The above was taken last October on the grounds at Rideau Hall.

Today I'm completing this series from Plaza Bridge. Each year the panels for the year's theme are set up soon after Canada Day, and tend to stay up through this month and into October. I remember the first time I walked among these- a woman was doing the same, and I remarked that if last year's election had gone differently, the idea of strong women being celebrated like this wouldn't have happened under a continued Stephen Harper government. To my surprise, she claimed Harper loved strong women. I wondered what could have given her that idea, as Harper always struck me as the kind of guy who thinks women should be in the kitchen. 



Jeanne Sauve The photograph of her is one done by the portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, rare to see one of his in colour.






Louise Arbour This photograph is one taken by the rock singer Bryan Adams.







34 comments:

  1. Perhaps Harper loved strong women the same way that Trump does, and only if they are good looking!

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  2. Wonderful series though only tow names I can recognise, Bryan Adams (and he was the photographer) and Buffy so it's a good job you added links

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  3. Kim Campbell, the first woman to hold the post of Prime Minister in Canada.

    Tomás.

    Editar

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  4. Another series of wonderful portraits, William !
    I like also your new banner image.

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  5. Beautiful portraits. Interesting women.

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  6. i have to say it ... if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. for me it is always what are we cooking as to whether i can stand the heat? sorry ... had to be silly. giggles!! ( ;

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  7. At first I though Louise Arbour was Sonia Sotomayor. Great portraits.

    Janis
    GDP

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  8. @Linda: perhaps!

    @Bill: I figured it was a good idea.

    @Tomas: and that has already been awhile.

    @Karl: thank you.

    @Halcyon: indeed.

    @Beth: nothing wrong with silly!

    @Janis: thank you!

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  9. I agree with you that hARPER WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT. WORSE , THE WOMEN WHO WERE IN HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT SUPPORT THESE TRAIL BLAZERS.

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  10. Stephen Harper loved strong women???

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  11. I remember Kim Campbell and her summer job! LOL! Great series, William. :)

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  12. Love the new header! I see fall on the horizon.

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  13. The post title made me think you were featuring 'characters' and wondering if you were doing a selfie?!!! :-)

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  14. @Red: they were just as bad as he was. I take great satisfaction from knowing that bastard's out of office, and that he has a progressive for a city mayor, an NDP provincial government, and a federal government led by the son of the man he hated most in the world. Harper must be in his personal version of hell.

    @Norma: definitely not! The man didn't like the idea of a woman thinking for herself.

    @Linda: a summer job indeed. Still, she was PM!

    @Sharon: there are a couple of trees I've noticed in my walks that are turning. I went up to Rideau Hall this past weekend and saw one nearby that was going into fall colour mode.

    @Jennifer: not in this case!

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  15. Oh thank you for sharing these wonderful portraits of important women! I love Buffy Saint Marie

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  16. A wonderful series William. Seasons change as do banners and I like your new one, well done!

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  17. It is hard to imagine that Harper loved anyone.

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  18. This is a wonderful exhibit of interesting portraits. It makes me want to find out more about these ladies.

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  19. @Cloudia: you're welcome!

    @Bill: I do like to change banners by the season. I've already got an idea for my winter banner.

    @RedPat: I don't even think he likes himself.

    @Denise: thank you!

    @Revrunner: you're welcome.

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  20. wonderful portraits!
    i like your new banner, lovely to see the trees beginning to change color.

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  21. The photos are great. You did, however, make an assumption about a man. Everyone would have made that assumption about my husband and they would have been so wrong.

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  22. Nice series on these famous women. Headed to Ottawa ourselves tomorrow for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial on Sunday.

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  23. I recognized many of these distinquished women and nice to see their portraits.

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  24. Beautiful banner. Love the colourful trees.

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  25. @Tammie: thanks!

    @Mari: given the man's extensive public record, the sort of way he behaved around independent thinking women, and his general personality, I think it's a fair assumption. The man is a sociopathic bastard, and I'm glad he's gone.

    @Furry Gnome: it'll be quite a weekend. I'm hoping to get up to the memorial, depending on if I can find out when the ceremony is.

    @Beatrice: thanks!

    @Nancy: thank you!

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  26. I thought I had commented but glad to learn more through the links. Thanks!

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  27. Such a fine series of photographs. You mentioned one by Bryan Adams. When I was in Stockholm, I passed a museum of photography that was featuring an exhibition of Adams' work. I didn't have time enough to go in.

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    Replies
    1. I've got one of his books, photographing Canadian women. He tends to work in black and white, and he's got a good eye for it. The Louise Arbour photo is also in that book.

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  28. This exhibit is very refreshing and I'm happy to see it. With all the Clinton bashing here in the U.S. it seems that misogyny is becoming national sport.

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  29. Hello William and all followers, I am glad you appreciated the portrait series of A Greater Sisterhood produced by employees of Library and Archives Canada in partnership with Canadian Heritage in 2016. Further information on the outside display at Plaza Bridge can be found at the following: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/events/Pages/greater-sisterhood-women-rights.aspx and also here: https://thediscoverblog.com/2016/07/08/a-greater-sisterhood-the-womens-rights-struggle-in-canada/ :)

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