A trip to the museum

Touchstones Museum in Nelson, BC, Canada. Nov/11

Short version:

Growing up in Toronto, I enjoyed trips to the Museum - The Royal Ontario Museum...(not to mention the Science Centre, CNE, Zoo and more), but I'll stick to the museum, because that's been on my mind, since a recent visit our local Museum), which got me thinking…

We may have a tiny Museum, but it invokes some big thoughts.

************

The rest of the story:

The new Exhibition in Gallery A - Two Views: Photographs by Ansel Adams and Leonard Frank.

Looking at the stark black and white photos of Canadians (of Japanese descent) during the "internment" of the 1940's, was moving and eye-opening.

It is disappointing to see how my country treated our Japanese residents. Taking away their civil rights, homes, property, way of life, dignity, families, livelihoods and detaining them in camps.

This isn't the 1st time, and maybe not the last either! Our country has treated it's native peoples the same way! Maybe even worse! I thought Canada was better than this...

However, some of the photos showed touching moments, capturing the love, strength and resilience of the human spirit, finding hope and even happiness, under bleak conditions.

*******************

Gallery B- The White Line: Wood Engraving Prints from the Studio and Collection of Gene Leavitt.

Wood engraving and printing may be a primitive technique, but the results are amazing. It's inspiring to see the span of design and detail that is possible within its limitations. Complex, yet simple at the same time, this presentation made me realize how much printing and illustrating techniques and mediums have changed over time, and how much effort it takes to make even a simple design, in this.

I loved the subtle humour in some of the pieces on display as well.

************************

Both exhibitions were presented in black and white. The contrast of the artistic prints were a "relief" and most welcome after viewing the sober black and white photos of the Japanese internments.

_______

I didn't know how lucky I was to be able to visit the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)

… until I moved to Calgary.

As a young mom, I took my kids to Calgary's Glenbow Museum.

Small as it was (compared to the ROM), it had a lot of interesting displays to see…

I didn't know how lucky I was to be able go to the Glenbow… until I moved to Nelson.

Now Touchstones is a small Museum!

However, size isn't everything.

Stained glass panels- St Saviour's Church.

St. Saviour's Church, Nelson, BC, Canada

Recently I had the privilege of visiting

one of our treasured Heritage buildings,

the St. Saviours ProCathedral Church,

(in Nelson, BC.)

The numerous stained glass panels were amazing and the history interesting.

Here you can see more (and better) photos of the stained glass.

I hate to admit it, but, it's been a long time since I've been inside a church.

Sometimes it's fun to be a tourist in your own neighbourhood, Enjoy :)

*Note: the old chair has dog heads carved on the arms*

A little surprise on the bulletin board

While on my lunch break at work today, I stopped outside the Touchstones Museum -

to see what's on their bulletin board.

There was a lovely little surprise, and I had to take a closer look.

It was a little brown furry thing.

Yup a little bat, sleeping the day away in a cool shaded nook,

with a thumbtack for an anchor.

Sweet dreams cutie.

May Days weekend

I just love Holiday weekends, don't you?

This could take far too long to write & read, so I'll just note the highlights.

Gardening:

I spent some time in the garden, weeding, planting, dividing, moving, admiring.

I do the flower beds, while Dave grows our vegetable garden which is off to a great start.

All we need is some more sunny (warm) days.

Entertaining:

We had some friends over for a Bar-b-que, chicken & steaks, with corn on the cob ( 5 for $2.00 at Save On),

salad, apple pie, rhubarb crisp, and ice cream.

Note: You may not know this about me, but I'm not comfortable in the kitchen, so I don't spend more time in there than I need to. That's why I'd like to point-out that I picked the rhubarb from our garden, and Googled a recipe to make a rhubarb crisp, I know it's not rocket science, but it was so delicious with Vanilla ice cream. We rarely have desert.

May Days:

We made the scenic drive to Kaslo on Sunday. They have an annual May days celebration over the long weekend with logging events, which had a healthy crowd, so we walked up the beach, checked out the Craft vendors, antique cars, and some shops. We had a short visit with an elderly friend, but the intermittent rain, and our geriatric dog- home alone, prompted us to head home early.

Family time & paint day:

I set up my paints and stuff on the picnic table on the patio, including our old ipod, set Low so I can listen to MY music (Roy Orbison, Chris de Burgh, Elton John, etc.) I was trying to decide if I should start something new, or work on some paintings that are in progress. It was so bright & hot in the sun, I just knew the paint will dry really quick so I decided my painting should be done quick too. In one day…Today!

My son came outside to see what I was doing. He soon joined me… squinting at the light reflecting from his bright, white canvas.

My tulips are blooming right now, what a perfect inspiration for a cheery painting.

We ended up moving the picnic table into some shade so we could both stop squinting. He also switched My oldies music to his new Progressive flavour. We spent an enjoyable afternoon talking and painting together, something we should do more often.

Groceries :

Yah, we gotta eat too. Tuesday I went to town & did the weekly grocery shop. I'll enjoy not having to do it after work tomorrow.

UPDATE: June 25/11

I'm donating my tulip painting to the Circle of Habondia Lending Society, as they are having an Art Auction Fundraiser, this Thursday June 30th- in Nelson, BC. and Michelle Mungall will be the auctioneer, Come if you can!

Another Fire in Nelson

Last night, (Jan 5/11) while the snow continued blowing, many of us slept,

and another Heritage Building went up in flames.

The Kerr Building (built in 1911) was home to a lot of people.

Fortunately it seems everyone got out safely.

However, their modest belongings are gone, and so are their homes.

Here are a couple of links- how you can help, story here and here.

***UPDATE- June 08, 2011: The Nelson Post- The wall comes down.***

The charred remains of a rocking horse and a pillow...

I walked up there on my lunch break, following the smell of smoke, and took these pictures.

Thurs. Jan 6, 2011.

(Here's a link to some other Heritage buildings in Nelson.)

Update: Jan 13/11

Our community is helping out.

Fire in downtown Nelson, BC

Downtown Nelson, BC was filled with smoke early this evening.

********************************************************


I was still in town, (Nelson, BC) at 7:30pm tonight.

The air smelled of smoke, as I walked up Vernon St, and then I could see it.

I followed the gathering crowd and the billowing smoke up Ward Street, to Baker.

Firemen were already fighting the fire... it's the Redfish Grill, I was going to go there for lunch today!

It sounds like no one was hurt or in the building (that "they" know of).

Since we no longer have our Nelson Daily News paper- I figured I'd take some pictures and

share the news. Fortunately the "grapevine" works pretty well in a small town. I'm hoping we can read about the fire and maybe see pictures some day soon (next week?)

But I wonder... what else has happened in Nelson since we lost our paper this month?

*******

Note: There was a fire in Ainsworth about a month ago and the Silver Ledge Hotel burned down. It was arson.