This shot represents the end of a very good day. One that was both productive and happy.
The one that got away…
Today I have uploaded a new print for sale on Etsy. My shop has been sadly neglected over the last month because of my move to a new apartment, and the process of settling in. Gosh, it takes up a lot of time…
Yesterday evening I attended “The One that Got Away”, a play performed in the pool at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. It’s a site specific performance that requires the audience to move around to three different locations as the play progresses, beginning at the spiral staircase that leads down to the pool area, and then the pools themselves. The production makes creative use of the site, and the location definitely adds to the sometimes amusing, sometimes sad story of the play. Water is as significant an entity to the action as the characters themselves. The story centers around Hannah, her grandfather, and the five wives he never loved. It’s a discovery of a family history, and a side of her grandfather Hannah never knew, and how these past events closed both of their hearts from love.
There is so much about this play I found touching and powerful. It was a surprisingly emotional theatre going experience for me last night.
The play has a very short run in Vancouver, with the last performance on Saturday June 2nd. Tickets are $28 / $24 students and seniors, and can be purchased by calling the JCC at 604.257.5111.
Flight
Yesterday morning I wandered into the printer/photocopier room at work, only to be startled by two pigeons flying out the window. Someone had left it open over the weekend, and as these birds have a tendency to do around our building, they took it as an invitation to come on in. It was quite a surprise. What really had me laughing, was turning around after closing the window and finding a pile of twigs and feathers in the corner by the photocopier. I’d mistakenly assumed they’d only just come in, when really they’d been moving in all weekend.
Cultivating virtue
VIRTUE will be genuine when one cultivates oneself.
VIRTUE will thrive when one cultivates oneself with her family.
VIRTUE will grow rich when one cultivates oneself with his village.
VIRTUE will abound when one cultivates oneself with her nation.
VIRTUE will flourish universally when one cultivates oneself with all people under Heaven.
Chapter 54, Tao Te Ching
My friend Amy sent me this quote as a follow up to a discussion we had shortly before I left Portland. We are thinking of doing a project together, that is if we can each make the time, and figure out how to do it…
The magic flute
Taken at the Saturday Market in Portland, Oregon, with an Olympus XA.
Leaves against sky.
This past weekend I was happy to finally achieve my long-standing goal to visit my friend Amy in Portland. She’s been studying there for almost two years, and I hadn’t managed to get the time or money to go see her, until now. I think it all came together when Joanna told me there was a train I could take from Vancouver (actually a bus to Seattle and then the train), and suddenly I could make the trip I wanted. I love traveling by train. It can be a wonderful way to get around and see things one doesn’t normally get access to by car. There’s also more leg room…
I didn’t really have a set plan of things to do and see while in Portland, but I ended up doing a lot anyway. I think the highlights from the weekend have to be our visit to the Japanese Garden, a 4km hike through the Columbia Gorge in heavy rain, shopping in the Hawthorne district, lunch at Pambiche’s, and attending the opening party of Mississippi May, a DIY arts extravaganza in a massive wearhouse.
I really liked Portland and hope to go again later on in the summer.
Giant monkey in the sky.
Rare is the day I encounter giant inflatable gorillas in my day-to-day life, so what fun to find not one, but two on a recent daytrip to Seattle. I’m not sure how exactly these were supposed to assist in increasing car sales at the dealership they were positioned by, but they definitely got MY attention.
I’ve begun making a few small tests of photos on metal prints I’m hoping to have in a show later this year. The results look go so far, and I would post them but metal prints don’t seem to scan very well…
Lucky room for rent
Taken in the neighbourhood of Strathcona, Vancouver, with an Olympus XA and cross-processed Ektachrome 100VS. I haven’t done any xpro in months, so I was happy to have such satisfying results on my first roll of the spring/summer season.
The weather is fantastic today. I went for a long walk along the seawall at lunch, and stopped in a park to play on the swings. What a great afternoon!
Red coats are wonderful.
Danny Michel was in town this week for two shows at the Railway Club, and I’m very happy I made it to one of them last night. I’ve missed him the last few times he’s played Vancouver, and didn’t want this to happen again. He’s always an entertaining performer and anyone I take to see him becomes a convert to his music. He’s on tour right now to promote a new CD/DVD box set he’s put together independently, featuring material recorded at two live shows in Toronto.
Blowing balloons
“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
Speaking of gratitude, five things I am grateful for:
1. All the wonderful and generous friends I have in my life.
2. The emails I receive sometimes from people via flickr to let me know my photography is inspiring.
3. The sunshiny weather forecast for the next five days.
4. Meeting the many interesting people who contribute to Momentum Magazine at a brunch last Sunday.
5. Finding more wisteria vines than I previously knew about, growing in my neighbourhood. They are almost in full bloom!