The Architectural Splendors Of The Grand Hall

 The Grand Hall is very much the heart of the Canadian Museum of History. The large windows facing out onto the river and Ottawa beyond it are part of the whole. The totem poles and sculptures are another. And the six facades, constructed by First Nations artisans of the current era and based on those of the Pacific Coast tribes that once existed, are yet another. One item I can't recall mentioning before is the background. It stands behind the facades, and is a photograph of a West Coast forest scene. It is one of the largest photographs in the world.

A glance outside. The upper portion of the Museum's water feature has remained dry this year.

This Hall is one of my favourite places.

Some of the totem poles and sculptures are historical in origins, while others have been fashioned in the current era for the Museum.

Outside in a reflecting pool sits a sculpture by Mary Anne Barkhouse, based on a family story. It is called namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together). It dates to 2013. The Ottawa River and the Alexandra Bridge stand in the background.

Chief Of The Undersea World And A Grand Hall

Departing from seeing the documentary film as noted in yesterday's post, I paused to photograph this view below. A dog sleigh team is mounted above the Museum's box office, legacy of a bygone era of Arctic exploration.

Close by is an item I usually see late in a visit to the Museum. Chief Of The Undersea World is a plaster cast version of the sculpture by Haida artist Bill Reid. This stylized killer whale occupies a portion of this level directly over the Museum's main entrance. 

The escalator down from here gives us a first view of the dramatic Grand Hall, boasting a six story high curving window, featuring totem poles and six Houses of the Pacific Coast. We'll carry on here tomorrow.

The Life And Times Of The Queens Of Old Egypt

 Here we have reproductions of crown headdresses of three iconic Egyptian queens.

I wanted some final shots before I departed. That included one of the video projections.

And wider views of the exhibit and other visitors.

I very much enjoyed visiting this exhibit, and decided to take in the large screen film Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs playing in the Museum theatre (my first time in a theatre since before Covid). On the way I photographed this large panel for the exhibit on a rolling door. If you'd like to see the film, click here. Tomorrow we start looking at more of the Museum.

A Dressing Table Of A Woman Of The New Kingdom

 Coming back to the Queens of Egypt exhibit at the Museum of History today. This video projection of ancient Egypt would be reflected in the display cases I would photograph below it.

Items below included a statue of the cat goddess Bastet, a double tray, and other items typical of the dressing table of a woman in the harems of ancient Egypt.

Carnelian necklaces of the New Kingdom caught my eye.

Other items displayed: a vase in the shape of a baboon, a spoon, or  a comb, are seen here. Tomorrow we conclude our look at this exhibit.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Right Under Your Nose

 The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for September that theme is Right Under Your Nose. Check out how others are interpreting this theme right here. 

I decided to go with a garden motif for this one. One afternoon in August I was down in the Glebe and was drawn to the gardens around Abbotsford House, a 19th century farmhouse that today serves as a seniors community centre, between a retirement home and a nursing home. Sunflowers are growing in the various flowerbeds.

Other flowerbeds lining the walkways have plenty of colour.

Returning to the sunflowers out front. Across the street is Lansdowne Park.

Bees were busy working on the sunflowers.