Dragons

The RAM also has a touring exhibit on the history of the dragon. Cameras were not allowed in the exhibit, but i did get one shot. I will post it tomorrow.

Empress of Ireland

The Provincial Museum or RAM (Royal Alberta Museum), renamed in honour of a visit made by the Queen, has an exhibit on the Empress of Ireland. The ship was one of the CP cruiselines's finest vessels. In the water's of the Saint Laurence the ship went down in 14 minutes. She ran into another vessel and took 1012 people down with her. The sinking of this lady remains Canada's worst maritime disaster, and is considered one of the greatest shipwrecks of all time alongside the Titanic, Lusitania, etc.

This entry is dedicated to Paul, a very good friend and an even bigger steamship lover, who has made me write this post a number of times now for accuracy sake ;-P

Market Day

Saturday is on of my favorite days. The down town open air farmers market is a weekly ritual for me.

The top photo is the most recent addition to my Saturday ritual. He and his wife run an authentic Mexican food booth. There is nothing like a little Pappas and a Taco or two for breakfast.

Stopped to Smell the Flowers

Ok this post is late.. My bad. I was enjoying life.

Urban Art

I have been waiting to post this for some time. It my favorite piece of gorilla art or graffiti. This image can be found glued to a boarded up window of an old heritage warehouse downtown.

The is something very V is for Victory about it. V was a TV mini series if you are missing the connection.

The Scream

What makes a piece of art popular or timeless. "The Scream" is a very recognizable work. Why is that?

For me I could always relate to the way the subject stood alone in a drab and dreary world.. I could relate to the frustration.

Don't get me wrong I am a pretty happy go lucky guy, but we all have periods in our life that test us.

I also think it looks like a jumbo size bozo the clown punching bag!

Alberta Gallery of Art, AGA

In a couple of the past shot you will see a crane in the background. It's the construction grounds for the new art gallery.

The Edmonton Art Gallery was a bunker of a building. Almost windowless, small and lacking the infrastructure to host large traveling art shows.

The new Art Gallery of Alberta has been a political sticking point. As is all to common many people view these facilities as needless, or playthings of the rich and affluent.

The cost of the new building will come in around 200 million. A large portion was paid for by private people or companies. a combination of federal, provincial and municipal tax dollars makes up the balance.

bellow is a sketch of what the finished product will look like.

A Work in Progress

The Works II

The entrances to the square will be created over the weekend. There will also be numerous pieces of Gorilla Art. Last year there was were a dozen or so statues made out of tin foil.

The Works

Edmonton is also called "Festival City". There are non stop activities from June to September. As Pride Ends, The Works Starts.

The Works turns Downtown into one big art gallery, and live music venue.
Best thing is, like pride, this festival is FREE.

Enjoy the prairie sky!

Bye Bye Pride

Saturday night will be the closing event for pride. It is going to be held at Enterprise Square. (See the archives for pictures of the old bay building)

I want to close this series by saying although pride started out as a gay event it has changed. It's is becoming more about celebrating diversity among everyone. It's also about basic rights and freedoms. In an airport in BC they are about to test a new screening device that digitally removes your clothes. A digital strip search. We should be up in Arms. This breach of our rights and freedoms is horrifying.

Take the spirit of pride and remember it year long, and don't be afraid to march when it's needed.

Gay Folk Singer

Pride week is nearing it's close.

There has been a film festival, and a art showing at the Alberta Art Gallery.

Oliver pool will be free this weekend so we have plans to lay out in the sun and eat free cake.

Happy Friday!

Leatherman

It just wouldn't be pride without a leatherman.

This is a friend from Calgary. His name is Wes and believe it our not he was steps away from being an ordained minister

Hot Nakid Boys!

Okay.. normally I am not this shallow, but it's pride week.

It just wouldn't be pride without nearly nakid go go boys!

I can't explain the torment i endure watching this guy eat potato chips all night. Sometime life is unfair and then there are times when it stares at you, and laughs the biggest belly laugh square into your face.

Martha.. I always knew I was diffrent.

Yesterday I asked what pride would be like if there was no big hair and panstick... Well this picture pretty much answers THAT!

Hey! Drag Queen

What would gay days be without big hair and pan stick?

I think that is my grandmas good christmas centerpiece in her hair...

Gay Day

This was Edmonton's largest pride yet. It was a fantastic day, the square was packed and the entertainment was GREAT!

Well done Pride Edmonton!

The Masks

This DJ and his partner both wear Guy Fox masks while they preform. I did get a few shots of them during setup without the masks, but they asked me not to publish them.

Happy Pride

The Pride Kick off party was put on at new City SubUrbs. It's the local fetish bar.. and can be a very interesting space. The bar itself is a converted movie theater and although it is interestingly decorated the space is nothing to write home about, It is the people and the dress that make New City what it is.

Clang Clang Clang goes the trolley

The Edmonton Rail Society operates a number vintage street cars. This one is an Import from Oska japan and it runs from Down Town across the high level bridge into old Strathcona. It's great for getting to the farmer's market.

Holts

Holt Renfrew is the Neiman Markus or Saks of Canada. In my opinion it is the only place to go for all things Designer, but some would disagree. Every season I get fashion magazines from them and invites to special shopping nights. It's all very chi chi fou fou.

The Icon

This Tower will have a twin right beside it. The twin will be the tallest residential building in Edmonton. It will be somewhere around 30 stories. There is an old Airport that is still somewhat operational just outside Edmonton's downtown core. This continues to limit the height to which we can build. It is a bone of contention for many people.

Work'n so Hard in the City!

There was a fantastic political cartoon in the paper today. It showed a man screaming and very visibly upset. Under the Winter heading he decries the state of the roads and all the potholes. Then the cartoon shows the same man in the summer This time his is visibly upset over all the summer construction and he asks why they have to fix the roads?

I feel like this only happens in Alberta, but I sure many more can relate to this ironic cartoon.

My Office View

This is what I look out upon for 40 hours out of the week. I much preferred my old view of city hall and the river valley, but the office goes through a yearly re-arrange. In the winter when i can see through the trees I can see my house from work.

Fearless

These decorative light posts are springing up all over the various Arts Districts. These ones are located right outside Alberta College which is known for it's music programs.

A Fair in the Rain is Just Sad Personified

Why does McArthur's Park come to mind. See if you can spot the cake. (there isn't on so please don't really try)

We were Lucky. The rain started just after our afternoon of fun on the midway.

Magic

Each one of these horses is hand carved and painted. The carousel is the show piece of the 1920's midway.

This is the Train Station at Fort Edmonton Park. The park is a Historical Romp through the city of Edmonton's 100 or so year history, You can see thinks like the first mosque to be built in Canada, a fully operational turn of the century hotel that is open year round. The hotel also has a Bar serving locally brewed beer. There is a converted steam train and a few trolley cars as well.

Lastly the park is also featuring a 1920's midway. I have more pics of that to come.

More Garden Shots

I really enjoy the quality of light I got in these shots. The sun was near setting and everything just seemed to work. It was like photo magic.

My Garden

I don't know what this beautiful flower is called. Does anyone know? The last owner of my house planted it.

Hostas

Edmonton is a gardner's paradise. The season my be short (May-Sept), but we can grow many many many things. I have had plants from the sub tropics on my deck at times.

Kawaii

This Daddy and his two girls are about to go for a dip in one of the reflecting pools at the legislative grounds.

LOOK AT THOSE PIGTAILS!

Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute. Pronounced ka-WA-ee