On a little walk around the Georges-Vanier & Lucien-Lallier metro stations, there are intriguing brownstones facing the ivy covered walls of the elevated train tracks. Wherever there is a clear space between the vegetation, we find graffiti tags in various stages of decay. The remarkable thing is how vibrant the colours have remained over the … Continue reading Under The Tracks – Montreal Walls Project – Thirty-Five
Whitewashing – Montreal Walls – Seventeen
See more of Montreal Walls... Living in the Northeast of Canada has it's pros and cons... weather is usually a lot of both, especially here in Montreal where we can have dramatic weather systems changing throughout any given day, as well as vast temperature fluctuations between days. This adds a specific kind of challenge to … Continue reading Whitewashing – Montreal Walls – Seventeen
Walls of Time – Montreal Walls – Sixteen
See more of Montreal Walls... Red brick walls fascinate me and I'm not entirely sure I know why, much less really want to unpack why they do. I think it has to do with the organic mix of colours and textures that appear in time on the bricks. They seem to start out in a … Continue reading Walls of Time – Montreal Walls – Sixteen
Urban Renewal – Montreal Walls – Fifteen
See more of Montreal Walls... Down from the Basilica on Francois Xavier in Old Montreal, you can get a glimpse of both the amazing bricks used in construction over a hundred years ago and how the city developers have preserved the facades of old buildings. Juxtaposed with these old facades are very modern additions that … Continue reading Urban Renewal – Montreal Walls – Fifteen
Montreal Walls Project – Nine – Consider Textures as Landscapes
In almost every shot I take, I look at it in black and white. This helps me see the textures of the subject, where light hits the surface, where imperfections are, and often gives me a glimpse at something more beautiful than colour can illustrate. Such is the case here, where the sunlight illuminates the … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Nine – Consider Textures as Landscapes
Montreal Walls Project – Eight – Imperfect Beauty
I know I'm biased by my obsession with the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic, but this is ridiculously beautiful to me! If I could reproduce this on my ceramic, I'd be in heaven! The stains from paint, mortar, stucco, and pollution remind me of the surprising beauty found on wood fired raku ceramics. ORGANIC! Imperfect and beautiful! Call … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Eight – Imperfect Beauty
Montreal Walls Project – Seven – Giving In To Wabi-Sabi-ness
I had to walk by this spot on the wall several times to get a sense of what I was seeing. This recently closed hot-dog joint was closed and the wall next to it's take out window is being repaired. First by removing the hideous aluminum covering... this is what's underneath: decades of patchwork repairs … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Seven – Giving In To Wabi-Sabi-ness
Montreal Walls Project – Six – Not All Bricks Are Red
Somewhere around the 1970s, the building were getting surfaced with yellow bricks; not bright yellow, of course, which would have been spectacular to see, but these warm, beige bricks with a hint of yellow in them. While the grime of urban pollution could be easier to wash away from these bricks, it seems the graffiti … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Six – Not All Bricks Are Red
Montreal Walls Project – Three – Remnants of The Old City
Montreal is over 375 years old and the original city was build with hand hewn stones often quarried near the waterfront. These building stones can still be found in the foundations of the oldest buildings. These look and feel of these stones is so indicative of the architectural history here that you can also see … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Three – Remnants of The Old City
Montreal Walls Project – Two – Wabi-Sabi Reds
To the naked eye, the bricks will appear dulled by pollution and grime, but visit them right after a refreshing rainfall; just before the sun is starting to dry them and you will find the perfect reds: warm, velvety, delicious reds! You will just have to touch them... (Circa October 2019) - Back in the … Continue reading Montreal Walls Project – Two – Wabi-Sabi Reds
The New Renaissance Mindset 