Saturday, August 4, 2018

Culture And The Evening Light

I mentioned in yesterday's post that there were educational aspects to Glowfair. Several tables were set up throughout the Saturday of the street fair with a First Nations theme. This below is a wigwam, a traditional shelter used by those First Nations of the Algonquin culture. Birch bark is assembled around a frame, with ventilation at the top to allow smoke to escape. These are built to be disassembled for movement, and are still used for ceremonial purposes. I chatted with a woman who said they're quite warm in the winter, when snow builds up around it and provides another layer of insulation. I went inside, offering a different point of view- fur was spread out, and the interior was lined with pine branches.


Nearby two men were about to stat a vocal performance.


I had a chance to speak with one of the makers of these items a bit later on in the evening- I had seen him last winter during Winterlude, when he and others were at Jacques Cartier Park, demonstrating traditional woodworking methods of the Anishinaabe. The drum, with its detailed bird, caught my eye.


Here we have an evening view of the wigwam. I was familiar with the term, but didn't have the visual reference for it before. It is a word that is sometimes misused, with First Nations dwellings that aren't wigwams being described as such.


Here we have another view of that roller skating area. This view looks north, in the opposite
direction from my shots in yesterday's post.


Music was a big part of Glowfair. There were concert performances on a stage set up in what's usually an office building parking lot near here, but on Bank Street itself, another stage had been set up, with a DJ playing house music on the stage. Very loudly. It's not my kind of music, but it does get the crowd geared up, and that makes for good photo ops.


Another one of the activities going on here- skipping ropes. The ropes were illuminated, held by two members of a small group of women for passersby to have a go at it. Either they would use one rope or two- it was two in this case, and the woman who tried it out was good at it. If I tried that, I'd get tripped up on the first swing.


Among the lit tree sculptures through the two evenings, there were several young women wearing transparent, illuminated capes, posing for photos with those who wanted it. These sculptures were quite captivating for those seeking a photo op.


I'll pick up with this tomorrow. It's appropriate timing, given that Buskerfest is underway this weekend.

28 comments:

  1. A good opportunity to see up close the way they built the wigwam and how it feels to be inside. Great way to learn and remember when we get to see the real thing. Very interesting display.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That would have been something for me I love the original cultures of all countries it's amazing what tents or houses they built out of bark or straw !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gostei bastante de ver estas magnificas fotos meu amigo.
    Um abraço e bom fim-de-semana apesar das altas temperaturas.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    Livros-Autografados

    ReplyDelete
  4. The illuminated ropes look so much fun. Everything looked fun.

    Janis
    GDP

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great photos! An illuminated cape! Must make one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such a delightful festival. I simply love that illuminated cape, as well as the wigwam at the beginning, for entirely different reasons. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This event really comes alive after dark, William!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't imagine how smokey it would be in that wigwam...even with the hole for the smoke to escape. Interesting post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's always surprising the excellent talent that shows up as a busker festival.

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Nancy: I enjoyed it.

    @Gattina: they were well built, and designed to be portable.

    @Tom: it was quite an event.

    @Marianne: definitely.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Janis: I was glad the ropes showed up on camera!

    @Maywyn: a lot of work goes into this.

    @DJan: thank you!

    @RedPat: it does.

    @Janey: it would be warm in the winter, but in summer you'd only get in there to sleep.

    @Red: true, and I have more buskers tomorrow. I've been to some of the shows here already for this weekend, and have enjoyed them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my! So much to see William, a photographer's dream! The traditional wigwam is designed so perfectly! The illuminated wings on the dresses too gorgeous ✨

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those illuminated trees and the wispy capes make a great photo op.

    ReplyDelete
  13. First Nation items are fascinating and combined with the new of street fair ~ neat photos!

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

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love glowfair! And to see the First Nations valued

    ReplyDelete
  15. Those illuminated skipping ropes are cool. Wonderful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  16. love all the lights and glowy-ness. way cool. happy weekend, William. take care. ( :

    ReplyDelete
  17. I always enjoy the variety in your posts William.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looks like a great event. I can tell you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. @Grace: I knew people would go for those.

    @Sharon: they do!

    @Carol: thanks!

    @Cloudia: so do I.

    @Bill: thank you.

    @Beth: thanks!

    @Marie: and I enjoy showing them.

    @Eve: it was a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  20. So that's an authentic wigwam? Like you, I'd heard the term applied to many things, usually a circular affair. This is really interesting. What eye candy this event offers! A great festival.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I didn't even hear about this in the news! Good work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the lights...and the wigwam!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a great event. I love the intriguing instruments and those capes that light up -- the look great with the tree sculptures.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Brilliant lights and illuminations.
    I enjoyed all of your photographs.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  25. @Kay: there's another term for tribal dwellings of the Southwest. Teepees are more of a plains tribal structure. And then there are the longhouses of the coast.

    @Jennifer: I do wonder how much media coverage it gets.

    @Norma: so do I.

    @Jeanie: they do.

    @Jan: thank you.

    @Klara: they are.

    ReplyDelete