Tuesday, July 25, 2017

National Arts Centre

On Canada Day, I came back from being across the river at the Museum of History to take in an evening concert at the National Arts Centre, which had just opened its new spaces earlier in the day. These two views are out front, looking out at the crowd around the National War Memorial, which stands across the street.


The place was busy inside. Where I was walking didn't exist a year ago- there was a sloping driveway going down where the glass enclosure now stands. It's certainly transformed the building's sense of itself, and the new space left me impressed.


This art installation is hanging inside at the moment. It is a 2010 sculpture by Canadian artist Kim Morgan, titled Range Light, Borden, PEI, sculpted of latex and mosquito netting, depicting the neglect and decline of a lighthouse.


This view out from the enclosure looks to the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Convention Centre beyond it.


Up on the top level of the building, I came into the balcony levels for Southam Hall, the largest performance space in the building. The stage was being readied for the evening concert, which featured a mix of classical and vocal music. I paused to take a shot of the steps that descend down to the lower boxes of the upper balcony.


This is another performance space in the NAC, the Theatre. The people gathered in here were members of Unisong, a collection of choirs from around the country who were involved in the Canada Day concert.


I have more from here tomorrow, but I leave off today with this glimpse of Cloud, a 2012 work by Caitlind Brown and Wayne Garrett, consisting of 6000 light bulbs in the shape of a cloud, presently hanging in a lobby here. It was a popular spot on Canada Day.

23 comments:

  1. So glad you went back to the cloud! It's even more interesting close up. And it looks like the building's pretty spectacular and worth the wait.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello, sounds like a fun day and celebration. The cloud is cool. Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ...a place that I would enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. very cool. looks like you are looking near a hot air balloon. awesome! ( ;

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful shots again, the third photo is my favorite this time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very spectacular. The cloud is impressive.
    Oh and i like your previous rock hound post. I collect and polish rocks---trying to find something valuable-(ha).
    MB

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lots of red and white in the large cloud.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Kay: it was definitely worth the wait!

    @Eileen: it was fun to come out here.

    @Tom: it was quite an evening.

    @Beth: it does look like that!

    @Jan: thank you.

    @MB: it's quite imaginative.

    @Red: lots of people were in those colours that day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great to be out celebrating. I like the cloud! Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Neat! The Clouds sculpture is fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thoroughly enjoying your posts William. Always so interesting. Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the Cloud artwork. It's unique and so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an interesting post. I love the lighthouse demise and of course, love the cloud.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love your perspective in these photos, William!

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Sharon: it's quite imaginative.

    @Nancy: it was quite a day.

    @Maywyn: it certainly is.

    @Denise: thanks!

    @Tamago: that it is.

    @Jo: thank you!

    @RedPat: so do I.

    @Linda: thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wonder whose job it is to replace those 6K bulbs when they blink out. I've wondered the same thing about some light displays we have in a couple of our art galleries here.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lots of people enjoying the festivities. The cloud is where it's at, it is impressive, I love it. Nice photos William.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I wouldn't know what to do anymore in a crowd like that. Another grandiose building. Modern sculptures just do not arouse any emotion. I'm left to wonder why they spent all that time doing the creating.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cool shots and interesting place.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The cloud is even better up close!

    ReplyDelete
  21. @Revrunner: I imagine it happens frequently.

    @Bill: thank you.

    @Mari: it's quite a building.

    @Klara: thank you.

    @Norma: I like it too.

    ReplyDelete