Odds And Ends In The Capital City

I have some odds and ends from the last few weeks today and tomorrow. We start back on Canada Day. I stopped briefly by the Museum of Nature that day, and as I was leaving the property, these ominous clouds were presenting themselves. Within minutes, the first rain began, falling hard. 

A little while later, and a bus ride away, I took this photograph downtown up at the sky. Another round of rain would soon fall, and when I got home, the worst storm of the day came down late in the afternoon.

On another day, close to home. This sweet cat spends a good part of the day napping in front of her house.

Another furry critter. I've probably photographed this rabbit before; this is in the front yard of St. Matthew Anglican Church in the Glebe.

In Major's Park stands this work of art. Twist 1.5 is by Alex Wyse and Ken Guild, done in wood.

Back in the Glebe, this church is one I don't photograph often. Blessed Sacrament Parish is a Catholic church in the south side of the neighbourhood.

The Supreme Court of Canada late in the day- a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture.

One day when I went into Gatineau, I stopped to photograph these flowerboxes alongside the street. You may remember the tulips being in them. After the tulips are done blooming, they get replaced by flowers lasting the season into October.

Once more in the Glebe. The stump of an old tree is hidden beneath all this greenery.

One morning at Lansdowne Park I noticed this squirrel, who noticed me.

For today, I finish here downtown. This is a work in progress, a large mural on a building. It's since been completed, and looks beautiful.

Morning Star

 Coming out of the temporary exhibit brings us to one level up from the Grand Hall. Looking up, I took in this view of Morning Star.

This massive mural is by the Dene artist Alex Janvier, full of Indigenous symbolism. It covers one dome high over the hall, and is my favourite work of art in the national capital region. Down below, seats are placed for the visitor to gaze up at the painting.

Here we have Spirit Of Haida Gwaii, the plaster version of the sculpture by Haida artist Bill Reid. Two other versions, in bronze, reside at the Canadian embassy in Washington, and at the airport in Vancouver.

The Grand Hall is filled with totem poles and the facades of Pacific Coast houses. It is a wonderful place to spend time in the Museum of History.

Just outside in the reflecting pool sits this sculpture by Mary Anne Barkhouse. Titled 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together), it is drawn from a story told by her grandfather of providing a wolf safe passage across treacherous waters.

I spent time among the totems. While I didn't want to attend the permanent galleries on this visit, no trip to this museum is complete without a stop in here.

Peaceful

Here we have the main stained glass window inside Knox Presbyterian. It was the design of a Scottish artist, William Wilson, and takes as its theme the birth of Christ

I looked back down the aisle.

Another look to the altar.

I headed up to the balcony. This sitting area is found here.

The balcony stained glass is also by Wilson- two decades after he designed the first. He was losing his sight at this point in his life but dictated his design to a colleague, who carried out the work. The theme of this window is Revelations.

A look into the sanctuary below.

I came out into the garden courtyard.

Sanctuary

 Knox Presbyterian Church is downtown, and it is a regular feature for Doors Open. It was founded in 1844. The current church dates to 1932, but looks older. It blends Gothic and Norman influences in its architecture.

In a side room off the entrance hall, historical items of the church were found.

A peek out into the garden. The sanctuary is to the left, and one of the staircases ascending to the balcony is at right.

The sanctuary has these graceful arched columns. Most of the windows are translucent.

A look to the front of the church, and the main altar, with its beautiful stained glass.

Plaques are found at one corner before the altar.

They commemorate the congregation members who fought and died in both World Wars.

Colours of the 207th Battalion are here, placed here after the First World War.

The baptismal font and the pulpit are close by.

Across the way, another pulpit and a grand piano.