We saw the house go up on the last progress post and this time the focus is on footings, foundation and a lot of zipping about.
ART -- random acts of creativity
Is art an object or a way of life? The definition of art has been posted in the past, (May 22nd) so here's the question; does it applies to the way you live? Is living a "pure" life important? ...and what does that mean? If art is defined by intent then it's fair to apply "pure artistic intent" to how one lives, no?
It's a challenge to all people to live his or her life this way (with artistic intent); be creative, take risks and above all do it with love. That is living purely. Not all of us can be artists, nor should we, but there is nothing stopping each and everyone of us from channelling the path of the "pure" artist. Doing our best to be open (creative), push ourselves that extra 25% (taking risks) and to be honest and respectful (love).
If art is about being creative and pushing boundaries of technique and questioning what makes it good art? Good art masters those elements and you feel it intuitively. Unsuccessful or weak art falls short for whatever the reason; unsuccessful technique or empty questioning/ execution etc. Bad art doesn't even try to explore these basic elements. As the song says "it's all about the bass" -- Meghan Trainor go girl!
Valuing art in a society is pretty much a given (just google value of art and culture in society to see what's out there); ask people an carefully listen to what they tell you. What is really interesting is that although art is recognized as valuable we are not easily prepared to boldly allocate funds in that direction: allocate to what is the heart and soul of our society.
Think about that for a moment. When is the last time, or ever, that you've heard anyone say "oh let's pour our money into the creative sector of our society, it will generate a healthy society"? Perhaps this sounds more familiar "oh poor starving artists, I guess it's the suffering that makes his/her work so great" or "oh we're doing a fundraiser, let's get artists to DONATE, it will be good exposure for them". Hahaha, laughable and kind of sad at the same time.
Personally, as an individual trying to live with artistic intent, I don't see how a society can move forward otherwise; we'd just be living history or standing still not progressing forward. Kind of like, cattle or sheep all running off a cliff. Einstein has some great quotes about insanity, intelligence, problem solving, curiosity, joy, education, nature, humility and value. Interesting basics to think about.
I have often said I can tell a lot about a person from his or her art collection and self reflection works the same way. The best part about this intellectual and intuitive game is the dialogue; a story(s) that develop through the arts. On a purely intuitive level one is attracted to certain visual works, dance styles, music, writings etc. It is what makes us unique and also connects us.
Why do certain Architects like minimalism over surrealism or abstract expressionism? All Architects are connected through the "line", at a basic level, and what he or she does with it is sometimes the unique part: I say sometimes, because as mentioned above as with art there's good, weak/unsuccessful and bad architecture.
Can you guess what type of art your favourite Architect might be attracted to by looking at his or her building design work? Maybe. You can certainly tell the difference between abstract expressionist architecture and minimalist architecture. The discussion then begins with, why would you design a building that looks like that? By engaging more fully one can understand so many things, but it's only revealed by looking into the layers.
For instance, the design could have come from a copycat style that is sellable, a movement of popular work and design at the time, a true collaboration with the client, an intuitive form of self expression. The next layer of enquiry could reveal the design it limited by parameters of present reality, like money, bi-laws, the number of art works on the walls and so forth. Does that restrict creativity?
Here's where we go back to choice and the individual. If you choose to live a pure lifestyle it becomes the challenge of who you choose to work with, how you work with what you have and want. Being creative is not often the easy route. Trying to live that life of artistic intent may not always be successful but worth every effort of the attempt -- it becomes the soul of your existence. How could that be wrong?
Big House (or hit the heading) , this week shows some photos of visual interest through the eye of attempting to live life moment to moment applying artistic intent.
Note; Apologies to all pure photographers: I possess heartfelt admiration for your knowledge and understanding of light --these images are a digital phone capture of moments.
Let me leave you with one last thought. If you get a chance to see the movie of Alejandro Jodorowsky‘s ENDLESS POETRY you'll understand.
PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS -- yes Strathcona is pretty SPECIAL!
Downtown Eastside area plans, False Creek Flats, North East False Creek area plans... these are places where change is happening. Meetings and public gatherings can be attended to learn about what is going to take place in Vancouver. All these developments affect our neighbourhood: a place where 300 children come to my door at Halloween. There are many Senior citizens here as well. It's an amazing pocket of diversity.
This is what I love about this community. Lately, there have been grumblings by individuals that may well have the ear of city staff and counsel. I've heard and have been told of non-residence representatives saying things like "oh, those people in Strathcona think that area is so special" or "well if you don't support this plan we'll just leave it and your community will not get funds that can improve your park or area". Hmmm, that's kind of disheartening, don't you think?
It's disheartening because Strathcona is SPECIAL. Is it that fewer Vancouverites get it and that's why they aren't happy and proud to share that knowledge. It made me think, perhaps people who haven't grown up here don't really know about this "hood" and they just need to learn.
So let's do just that. Let's help others understand, truly understand, who has contributed to the glory of Strathcona. Anyone who wants to write a section for PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS, to share in this section, is very welcome. I will be happy to post on his or her behalf (of course credit to the author is a given).
Perhaps when Project 851 is done this can be something that continues on... (BIG SMILE)
For now, I'm happy to start. There's a pretty large gem collection here -- gems of people who have made up the community. The few gems shared here are part of a larger collection that has come my way during my lifetime in this city and my residency in Strathcona.
People are what makes a community, and that's what most of us believe in and identify with, so that's the focus. Who are the people that have a deep connection to Strathcona?
Past:
Francis Stillman Barnard - This is the dude that Union St. was named after, as it was actually Barnard St. before it was Union St.
Nora Hendrix - Grandma of Jimi Hendrix, lived in Strathcona on Georgia St. and Jimmy came up from Seattle to hang out with his family over the years. The Black community that was part of Strathcona as were many other communities; the Chinese, Italians, Croatians, Russians, Japanese, Serbs, Maritimers, Portuguese...
Mary Chan - An amazing woman, who understood community, welcomed meetings in her home on Keefer St where she served up more than tea!
Joe Wai - As one walks around the neighbourhood and looks closely he/she can see many homes designed by Joe Wai. What I love about these houses in the community is that they may look the same but are all structured differently: ie. co-op, strata, sole ownership etc. (p.s. the houses shown in the link are right next door to 851 Union) Same, same but different.
Bing Thom - Another amazing human being was Bing Thom and I recall hearing him speak at a SFU Woodwards downtown panel discussion, some years ago. It was very impressive to hear his insight and professionalism. His compassion crossed societal boarders through common sense with dignity. Bing referred to our community as "the cultural farm team" that if not protected would be lost to citizens and the city.
Ken Lum - Here is a world renowned artist who's roots are connected to our neighbourhood; Union St to be accurate. I met Ken at a Centre A auction a few years ago, where he and I were looking a a work by David Khang , discussing the technical know-how of mounting photography on aluminum. Ken shared his warm thoughts and memories of Strathcona with me and also how he went to Chinese school in what is now the Rennie Gallery on Pender Street. I believe it was the 700 block union he lived on -- the same street as Nick Milkovich and K.D. Lang .
Present:
Richard Tetrault - Here is the artist I call "the Diego Rivera of Vancouver"; the wall muralist of many truly collaborative projects ie. The Russian Hall, Firehall theatre, Through the Eye of the Raven to name a few. Richard is a muralist, painter, printmaker and magic man of art. He has lived in the neighbourhood for over 30 years.
Stan Douglas - Here is another international artist who also has made a home in the hood for many years. My understanding is that Stan's roots go deep into our BC history and I've found him to be generous when reaching out for a project I did for the Eastside Culture Crawl -- 77 Vancouver Artists.
Esther Rausenberg -- What can I share about this dynamite woman, friend of Carole Itter and the community? She presently is the Executive Director of the Eastside Culture Crawl Society, sits on the Board of Trustees for the Vancouver Art Gallery, is an artist in her own right and a generous soul.
Ewan McNiel -- What another artist? haha (smile) yes, we have a few of those people living here. Ewan too has lived in the hood for many years and recently had a show at the pendulum gallery.
I love the story he tells about a woman his wife met while working at the Vancouver Art Gallery who described their home to a t. That was after his wife had said oh, you won't know where I live it's a place in Strathcona. Apparently, their home had been the woman's Godmother's and she had spent much time there. The beauty of our community.
Bruce Hadden -- One of the architects living in the community is Bruce who is award winning and a contributor to the hood in personality and design. Guess who designed the new library on Hastings st.
Future:
As the oldest neighbourhood in the city, we have seen a lot of change and also welcome it. The key is listening to the people who live here and welcoming others in, those who understand and appreciate the gem we have in this community.
This week's blog only touches ever so fleetingly, not even a breath, on the wonderful people who live here, have lived here and are connected to here.
When it came to deciding to move forward with this project, Marianne Amodio was chosen as the architect and Reece Terris as the contractor. The reason was felt that adding their voices here in Strathcona would fit beautifully with our community; my family all agreed and so far I'd have to say we hit the nail on the head!
COMMUNITY -- -- taking care of each other, 'cause that's what you do!
From music to watching critters, Strathcona is a place where it's easy to be a part of things that are bigger than yourself. Whether at Union Market, Wilder Snail, Strathcona Park, Strathcona community gardens, Mclean Park or just walking around the neighbourhood it's a given someone, somewhere, will enlighten you me to things going on or extending an invitation to just hang and share something exciting to think about.
Grateful, is the best word to use when describing living in this community and being able to develop homes at 851 Union St falls into the same category. It's the best place, in my opinion, to live and probably why it can be so hard to land here. In fact I put in offers to at least 3 or 4 places before finally being able to acquire a home at 584 Hawks; Koo's Corner. More than 10 years later, I suspect the word has gotten out and more people are in the know of this great historic gem of a community. A big part of us being able to acquire 851 Union in 2014 was lessons learnt by living here -- move fast. In fact, last week one of the neighbourhood gems on Pender and Heatley (450 Heatley) sold within a week of it's first open house. Guess it's safe to say the word is out and people want to be a part of a community where, as the wall at Strathcona School says, "we take care of each other".
Today while walking a friend's dog, Ziggy, I overheard a gentleman telling his wife, how great he thought this area was and said "You can feel it here in this neighbourhood, just as you walk the streets". They had just come out of an open house on Keefer street so I engaged in friendly conversation and asked about "it" -- he expanded on the feeling and it became obvious he was referring to the people in the community. I hope he and his partner decide to buy that place, as it seems to me they would be a great fit.
1. & 2. Strathcona school -- seismic upgrade.
3. Just opposite Strathcona school is the Buddhist temple on Keefer St.
4. I've always been a sucker for a pink dogwood tree!
1. - 4. The sign says it all -- Strathcona community Gardens (ahhhhh, smile)
1. - 4. No stealing in the gardens but sharing harvest in the park is definitely allowed!! Ziggy seems to agree park time is a good place to be.