Thursday, November 30, 2017

Myths, Evidence, And Jazz Music

I have some odds and ends today. This is a work of art called Myths And Evidence, installed this year in Gatineau by artist Mathieu Valade. A full sized unicorn is encased in a translucent glass box. The art is in the trick of the glass itself, which conceals the unicorn the closer you get, and gives you a better view the further away you are. It's a mix of being simultaneously identifiable but obscured.


Down the street stands Gatineau's City Hall.


One evening in October I was passing through Lansdowne Park. There was a football game going on at the stadium, and I came across two wood carvers in the process of carving sculptures. One appeared to be Joseph Montferrand, while the other was the logo of the Ottawa Redblacks (yes, it's a stupid name for a team). The Aberdeen Pavilion was their backdrop.


These two signs were to be found in the Glebe.


This is a view of the main span of the Chaudiere Bridge, taken at the entrance to Miwate, which I showed you earlier in the month, and will have another couple of posts on in December. The Gatineau skyline is in the background. The bridge crosses a part of the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau; this is quite different from other nearby bridges. At this spot, the river passes among a series of islands, so the bridges spanning it on this road are a good deal smaller than the Portage, Alexandra, or Macdonald-Cartier Bridges downstream.


Here we have a view of the Chinatown Arch at night.


Also a night shot, back in the Glebe in October. I was passing by Lansdowne Park one evening and noticed that there were football players on the field. This might have been a practice, either for the Redblacks or the University of Ottawa's team. There were people in the stands watching, but not enough for there to have actually been a game going on.


This shot I took one evening at the National Arts Centre, where a jazz band was playing after a classical concert in one of the performance spaces.

37 comments:

  1. Love the unicorn. The arch is beautiful. Interesting post.

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  2. I always thought Canada was a magical place. The unicorn proves it.

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  3. Who said Unicorns did not exist. That was a good selection of photos

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  4. A wonderful display of the unicorn.

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  5. A special artwork the unicorn behind the glass.

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  6. An ecelectic mix, William. Loved the unicorn and greatly admire carved wood.

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  7. That should have been 'eclectic' - jittery fingers.

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  8. ...William, an interesting assortment!

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  9. Hello, the wood carver at work is a great capture. I love the unicorn. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

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  10. I hope someone is feeding that poor unicorn.... he must be pretty fed up with being stuck in that box.

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  11. I like the unicorn and also the arch is beautiful, William !

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  12. @Linda: thank you.

    @Kay: it certainly does.

    @Bill: they apparently do!

    @Marleen: it definitely is.

    @Stefan: I agree!

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Marianne: it really is.

    @Mike: eclectic indeed!

    @Tom: quite so.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Shammickite: hah!

    @Karl: I agree!

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  13. What a great collection of shots. I saw a unicorn the other day. It was an FAO Schwartz product at a store called Home Goods. I would have bought it, but my kitties might revolt and they're hard enough to deal with as it is. I also like the Chinese Arch...

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  14. You get around. A nice mix of Ottawa.

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  15. That unicorn art is fascinating. I must be the "other kind" of person because that sign is driving me crazy! ;-)

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  16. i think you called it a Glebe ... what a gorgeous wall ... so lovely. i enjoy the wood work too. nice!! ( ;

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  17. @Lowell: the kitties would revolt!

    @Red: I get to a lot of places, and yet there are sections of the city I rarely get to.

    @Sharon: I got quite a kick out of that sign!

    @Lady Fi: it is indeed.

    @Cloudia: thank you!

    @Revrunner: really. It's a dumb name. In previous incarnations, the Ottawa CFL team were the Roughriders and Renegades. Both franchises got destroyed by the same family owners- an incompetent set of twits who had absolutely no idea what they were doing. Why the CFL allowed a sale of the Renegades to the same family that tanked the Roughriders is still baffling.

    @Beth: yes, the Glebe is a fairly large neighbourhood here that I get to spend a good amount of time in.

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  18. The unicorn is quite unique. Nice images, William.

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  19. wow that unicorn is quite interesting and fun to see that wood carver. So many fun things go on in your area.

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  20. Wow! There is so much to see in & around Ottawa!

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  21. @RedPat: I knew it would draw attention! When you stand right up next to the case, it's nearly invisible.

    @Bill: thank you!

    @Susie: it's a winner.

    @Tammie: a lot does happen here.

    @Christine: there really is.

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  22. I do hope the classical concert was better attended than the lonely jazz band.

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  23. Lovely night shots and that unicorn is so fascinating ~

    Happy Weekend to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. Such a great city, Ottawa. And I LOVE that Chinatown arch!

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  25. The unicorn and the signs are interesting. Love the Chinatown arch. Have a wonderful day!

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  26. Love them. I like your night shots, too!

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  27. Just love the unicorn and the Chinatown Arch at night...
    All great photo's.

    All the best Jan

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  28. I love the last picture! Great night scene.

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  29. @Mari: oh yes.

    @Carol: I suspect they may have moved it. I saw the unicorn at a distance in Gatineau at another spot. Unless the artist made two.

    @Catalyst: so do I.

    @Nancy: thank you.

    @Jennifer: thanks!

    @Jan: thank you!

    @Norma: indeed!

    @Klara: it is!

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