Images

the secret path

Today’s painting was inspired by last night’s broadcast on CBC television of Gord Downie’s film, The Secret Path. The film acknowledges a dark part of Canada’s history – the long-suppressed mistreatment of indigenous children and families by the residential school system and tells the story of twelve year old Chanie Wenjack who died alone beside the train tracks fifty years ago on October 22, 1966 whilst trying to walk home to his family from whom he was taken over 400 miles away

If you can find an hour take the time and see the film, and be as moved as I was. Learn Chanie Wenjack’s heartbreaking story, listen to Gord Downie’s unforgettable songs and music and be inspired by award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire’s illustrations. You can find the film here on the CBC website: The Secret Path.

Dedicated to the memory of Chanie Wenjack

Mirroir d’Eau, Bordeaux, France.

From our memorable trip to South West France last October one more image to add to those that I posted last December on Day 335 of Studio 365 where you can read about this spectacular landscape architectural marvel, the largest reflection pool in the world and listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

No studio time this weekend so instead an excerpt from Day 12 of my journey through Tony Smibert’s Lessons from the Great Masters last July for Worldwatercolormonth Day 17 today.

Looking up on the Admiralty Trail in the Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver on a beautiful Spring day in April this year. You can see more photos of these spectacular leafy canopies from our trail walk in spring forward fall back, and the same trail decked out in glorious autumnal colors last October in Boundaries.

For this week’s Photo Challenge: Opposites Ben invites us to “show how opposites can tell a story about people, places, or objects. The tension can reside in what you choose to show — old vs. new, big vs. small, dark vs. light — or in how you frame and design your shot.

In this photo of the work table in my studio, which I think meets Ben’s criteria, the two watercolour paintings opposite each other are of different views of the McDowell Sonoran Reserve in Arizona. I have also submitted this today as part of a post for Worldwatercolor month under the title “Be your own painter,” where you can read more about the story behind the title.

The sensational sinuous curves of Antelope Canyon, Arizona

This photo from Lower Antelope Canyon will be familiar to those of you who follow thechangingpalette. Our visit there just over a year ago was simply spectacular and I was greatly honoured when Cheri featured the mesh gallery I created from the trip in The Daily Post’s Photos We Loved last September.

More curves to follow.

With a thank you to Cheri one final post for the last day of this week’s Photo Challenge as we catch the Aquabus back to Granville Island and head on home. Here you have a better view of the third bridge that crosses False Creek, the Cambie Street Bridge, and in the distance below the span you can just make out the geodesic dome of Science World from where we have just walked and from where yesterday’s panorama was taken.

Before we leave one final view of Burrard Bridge where these last seven days of landscape photos began last Friday. I hope you have enjoyed the views as much as we did on our walk last weekend. Thanks for joining us.

After leaving Granville Island our weekend walk took us to the east end of False Creek from where when you look back you can see the residences of Olympic Village on the south side built for the 2010 games, the Cambie Street Bridge way in the distance, and BC Place Stadium on the north side. This panorama shot was taken from the deck outside the geodesic dome of Vancouver’s Science World that opened for the World Fair in 1986 (Expo 86). As you can see the pedestrian and cycle pathway takes you around the creek and then carries on to Stanley Park so all can enjoy one of the world’s most accessible, varied and so often stunning urban landscapes.

We’ve arrived at Granville Island on our weekend walk and here below the Granville Street Bridge you can see the Aquabus water taxis waiting to take you up and down False Creek. The photobombing seagull was a complete surprise however and clearly felt the landscape wouldn’t be complete without him. Serendipity at work once again.

Check out the great Granville Island website and learn all about one of Vancouver’s jewels.