THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA
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| The National Gallery of Canada with Greenlandic by Inuk Silis Høegh Under the iceberg 'wrapping,' the glass plates in this part of the gallery are being replaced. The structure looks like a crystal prism when it is not wrapped. |
We were only in Ottawa for two full days, but we saw a great deal at the National Gallery. The Sakahàn show was spectacular, featuring contemporary international indigenous art, 150 works by over 80 artists from 16 countries. There was a tremendous variety of media and approaches, combining cultural traditions with contemporary art strategies. I bought the 286 page catalog and I will have to take time to read the 14 essays included within it.
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| Water Song by Christi Belcourt, National Gallery of Art
Water Song by Christi Belcourt resonated for me. Based on Ms. Belcourt's knowledge of traditional medicinal plants and the traditional aboriginal use of beadwork, the canvas consists of tiny dots of acrylic paint on a black background. I like the way the artist has shown some of the roots in the soil.
http://www.christibelcourt.com/home.html |
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| cantchant 2009 Vernon Ah Kee, Kuku Yalandji, Waanji Yidindji |
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| Brett Graham & Rachel Rakena, Aniwaniwa, 2007
Aniwaniwa was captivating as an installation. The work references the flooding of a Maori town in New Zealand when a dam was built. The five round video screens suspended from the ceiling show us the Maori going about daily tasks under water in a fluid, poetic film with five viewpoints as a Maori singer accompanies the visuals. Lying on your back on a black mattress in a dark room enables you to become engrossed in the installation. I read the screens' frames as rubber tires for a huge truck, but apparently, they are embossed with traditional Maori symbols. This was our favourite part of the exhibit!
We also found Barnett Newman's Voice of Fire, which was purchased by the National Gallery in 1989 for $1.8 million. People are still talking about the controversy here! The painting was commissioned for Expo 67 in Montreal, for the US pavilion organized by art critic and historian Alan Soloman. The exhibition American Painting Now featured 22 the work of 22 artists. Although the painting is huge, I must admit it was something of a let down for me. I have seen other Barnett Newman paintings that show incredible subtlety in blue-black, pink-black, green-black, etc. This painting is very bright and very flat. It would have dominated the geodesic dome where it hung.
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Louise Bourgeois' Maman welcomes visitors to the NGC.
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As we sat down in the cafeteria of the National Gallery of Canada, I immediately recognized Roxy Paine's One Hundred Foot Line sculpture. I had written about some of Paine's work, including this one, in an essay about nature, culture and technology during my second semester at AIB. Paine takes the forms of trees and represents them using industrial materials in a hybridization of the natural and the industrial. It was great to stand underneath the sculpture and realize its true dimensions. In addition, we viewed works by the Group of Seven, the Impressionists and early 20th century modernists.
THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CANADA |
Our primary reason for visiting Ottawa was actually to see our daughter play with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in the National Arts Center. ( She is in the photo in the bottom right-hand corner playing the viola!) What an amazing concert! The program featured Mahler's Symphony 9, D major as well as Leonore Overture #3 Opus 72b by Beethoven and Isomorphia by James O'Callaghan. They are playing in Vancouver this weekend.
There were also some tourist activities we took in, such as the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill. The ceremony is accompanied by the Ceremonial Band of student musicians. We are aquainted with one of the trombonists and my musical daughters know a few other current members of the band.
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The Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill
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The Ceremonial Band marches to the parade ground.
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Locks on the Rideau Canal
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The Rideau Canal passes through downtown and features locks between waterways at different sea levels.
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Parliament from the National Gallery.
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We toured Parliament during a morning of pouring rain. It was interesting to see the inside as we are used to seeing only small bits of it on television as politicians are being interviewed. Canadian government is based on the British system.
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Parliament from Wellington St.
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The proper neo-romanesque atmosphere for serious government-
inside Parliament in the foyer of the House of Commons.
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The House of Commons that we see during "Question Period" on television.
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Stained glass windows of the provincial and territorial official flowers in the Commons.
I can relate to the 'wildflowers' in the window panes.
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In the foyer to the Senate, royalty are ever-present, if only in their portraits.
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The Senate chamber.
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Under the Peace Tower.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The flame burns in the middle of a fountain, seen from the Peace Tower.
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Light show on Parliament Hill!
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