The Brick Works

Which reminds me, I never did tell you about our trip to the Brick Works. I've been wanting to check it out. We went the last Sunday in July, for the antique market. I wanted to see the graffiti in the old brick works themselves. It also has its own example of an urban marsh too. RJH thought it was a bit contrived, and the brick works a little too tamed, but I really enjoyed it. I think it's a great idea, reclaiming industrial space as art, event and nature space. I love, of course, that the graffiti is not only left, but featured. They have a farmer's market on Saturdays too. I also enjoyed the historical photos of the great Toronto fire of 1904. I can only imagine how hot it must have been in there with all the kilns firing, day and night, to rebuild the city core.















We saw snapping and painted turtles, and watched the great blue heron at length. The marsh was full of bees, butterflies, dragonflies and moths too. Another oasis within the city.

Halifax

So, we made it to Halifax, about mid-day, and wandered out in search of lunch. For a brief glorious hour, it ceased being what RJH calls "fresh" (at least a 20 knot wind which makes it feel shockingly cold for June) and the sun shone and everything was lovely. I took some photos, but I didn't take enough time. Occasionally it is intimidating trying to take snapshots with a professional photojournalist in tow - but here's a glimpse:



Coincidentally, he had photographed this artist and this sculpture as it was being made in Ontario.




He described the looming Irving refinery as looking like 'the gates of hell'.



Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you have ever seen? I look that the ball cap wearing tug actually has a SIMRAD antenna like it might go further than the harbour, out to sea.






After our outing we rested than I dragged him out to the pub with scientists (mainly German), but now, in recompense, we're watching the Stanley Cup finals, game 1.

on the side of the road

These were plastered all over Queen St E, not last weekend, but the one before:



I like to imagine the small child and author, like a miniature circus barker promoting his toy sale, challenging all other toy sales to a toy sale smack-down. "It. Is. On."

Maybe that says something about me.





I'm also going to say, because no one else will, thank goodness for actual heat! 31^oC is more like it.

Tomorrow, we're off to Halifax and assorted maritime provinces.

street art - Ossington

This is one of my favorite pieces of (guerilla) public art. The photo is one of the more popular ones in my flickr stream. I don't know the artist, but this mural on Bousthead Avenue, off Dundas St W, says 'Fiat Mihi' on it. Clearly, the piece on an exterior wall on Ossington, between Dundas and Queen, is by the same artist. I asked RJH to photograph it:



We had gone to see some of the PRINTOPOLIS exhibits, on Saturday. Along the way, we stopped to explore an alleyway, where I shot the graffiti.




Yes, that's a cement baby-head in the teeth of the 'Private Property No Dumping' sign.







Bit blurry, but I also appreciated the rabbit, sauntering down the street in his velvet jacket.