Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Colour At The Museum

The Canadian Museum of History is on the shoreline of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, across the river from Parliament Hill. Formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization, it presents the story of Canada's history in its permanent galleries, along with regular special exhibits. At present one of those is about Neanderthals, which just opened in the second half of May and runs through most of January 2020.

The museum was designed by First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal, and if you only visit one museum in the area, this should be it. Here we have a bed of tulips flowing alongside the bushes, with the curatorial wing in the background.


In this case I photographed a planter with tulips along the walkway.


Here we have migrating tulips in the bushes beyond the formal beds, no doubt a legacy of furry tailed gardeners.


Back to the amazing splash of colours in the formal beds.


I know there are flowerbeds up around the main entrance. Here we see the graceful curves of the curatorial wing on the left, and the exhibit building beyond it. Cardinal's architectural style takes its influences from his First Nations roots, and can be seen in other buildings he's done, including the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. Cardinal lives in the Ottawa area, and to me, this is his masterpiece.


Here we have the tulips in the beds near the entrance.


There is a stairway leading down towards the shoreline that separates the two halves of the institution, and the gap allows for a view of Parliament Hill. 

38 comments:

  1. Love the architecture (and the tulips).

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  2. The curved lines of the museum are wonderful.

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  3. Another river of tulips, I like that curved effect.

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  4. Very unique design. The front of the museum looks like a face. Beautiful and colourful tulips.

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  5. Like rolling waves of colour! A kaleidoscope , so amazing to see!

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  6. Beautiful and colourful images, William, tulips everywhere !

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  7. It is a lovely area and the museum is a splendid structure.

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  8. I can definitely see the similar style of architecture having gone to the National Museum of the American Indian here in DC. I like the curves he uses in the two buildings. Lovely displays of tulips again.

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  9. The buildings of the museum are wonderful:)

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  10. ...and the tulip bonzona continues!

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  11. Hello, gorgeous colorful tulips. The museum is beautiful too. Lovely images. Enjoy your day!

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  12. You are right, an amazing pop of colour.
    The architecture is wonderful. I've taken many students there, as well.

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  13. What amazing architecture...I can't wait to learn what the domes contain in the interior. Great resemblance to a mask at the entrance...to invite one to experience another view of things.

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  14. that front of the building looks like a transformer or a bug? way cool architecture. ( ;

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  15. I would like to see the Neanderthal display there but I probably won't as I don't like to drive into the city any more.

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  16. What an interesting building. And as always I am enjoying the tulips. :-)

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  17. @Iris: so do I.

    @Jan: I agree.

    @Joan: I do as well.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Nancy: thanks!

    @Laurie: indeed.

    @Karl: thank you.

    @David: definitely.

    @Denise: his style is quite distinctive.

    @Rosie: I have always enjoyed this museum.

    @Tom: yes, but we're getting close to the end.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Jennifer: thanks!

    @Barbara: I'll be going into the museum at Canada Day. I hope to see the exhibit then, but I expect there'll be quite a line.

    @Beth: to me it looks like a turtle, which is quite appropriate, as the turtle is significant in many First Nations cultures.

    @Anvilcloud: I'll have to let you know what it's like.

    @DJan: thank you.

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  18. Love the design of that building. The curves are wonderful.

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  19. It is quite a wonderful building!

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  20. Hey Cardinal is our guy! Alberta. His first major building was St. Mary's Catholic church in Red deer.

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  21. Incredible architecture William, the exhibit building is amazing, I love his style.. all enhanced by the gorgeous tulip displays 🌷

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  22. I had not heard of Cardinal but, his style is very, very appealing. I love that photo with the red tulips in front of the building.

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  23. @Marie: I agree.

    @RedPat: it is.

    @Red: he's done a lot of different projects over the year.

    @Grace: thank you!

    @Sharon: definitely!

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  24. The museum is quite an impressive structure.

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  25. I love museums, but it would be tempting to sit outside and just view the tulips. Tweeted.

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  26. The colour combinations are lovely.

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  27. Beautiful building, your photos capture it well.

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  28. @Bill: it is indeed.

    @Mari: thank you.

    @Marleen: that they are.

    @Maywyn: thanks!

    @Michelle: so do I.

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  29. Hooray for furry tailed gardeners. My favorite.

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  30. Cardinal did a fabulous job on the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. I'd love to see the Canadian Museum of History...and, of course, the tulips.

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  31. Lovely photos ~ ^_^

    Happy Day to you ^_^

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  32. I like the colors all mixed up like that and the architecture is striking.

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  33. Those furry tailed gardeners are kind of cheeky!!!

    Lovely photographs again William, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  34. @Joanne: I'm fond of those little gardeners.

    @Sami: thank you.

    @Kay: he's a great architect.

    @Carol: thanks.

    @Jeanie: me too.

    @Jan: you're welcome.

    @Klara: that they are.

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