The Canadian War Museum 2

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If anyone was left wondering what the  War Museum in it’s entirety looks like after my previous Deconstruction post I’ve book-ended this one with two different full views and included a few images I haven’t yet posted. As always you can click on the images for a larger view.











For information about sustainable design and the museum click here
Architect: Raymond Moriyama

All images © Karen McRae

Deconstructing Architecture: The Canadian War Museum

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The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa is sustainably designed with the notion of regeneration. At the back it rises gently  out of the landscape in some places barely visible. In the summer its green roof sways with approx 10,684 square metres of native grasses further integrating the building into the surroundings. In the winter I love how minimalist it appears from different angles, how the materials used and the cement in particular, soften against the snow. Every angle intriguing.








While nature may be ravaged by human acts of war, it inevitably survives, regenerates and renews itself. – Raymond Moriyama, Architect

All images © Karen McRae

Architecture On Ice

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Can you call this architecture? I’m actually quite intrigued by this community of ice fishing shacks that pops up every year not far from where I live. I’ve never been ice fishing and don’t really have much desire to but as an onlooker I find something visually pleasing about the whole thing. All the various colours, shapes and sizes of the structures and even a trailer thrown in. Each shack a reflection of the owner(s). I wonder if it gets competitive? Surely the fishing does.
I’m going to get brave and move in for some closer shots, but for now this is all I can offer you. Curious?




All images  © Karen McRae

A Snow Canvas

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An old and graceful Weeping Willow in the snowfall.

I came across this winter garden when I was out working on an architectural project. Different shapes and forms against a snow canvas. Even grey-furred pussy willows, an early sign of spring!






All images © Karen McRae

Grateful

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I’ve been genuinely surprised and thrilled by the amount of interest in the wrapped trees series and I wanted to thank the following blogs and bloggers for featuring the images and re-posting them. Their sites are well worth exploring so please check them out.

Cath at Blanket and Bone has the following description for her blog “Celebrating the handmade, the artisanal, and the unique”  She asked me a few questions about my work in general and the series specifically which you can find here.

Writer and artist David Halliday from the powerofh blog did a post on the first series of wrapped trees here . I love David’s description of why he started blogging “… to offset my muttering in public places.” He has several blogs on the go and creates some fascinating stories and collages along with featuring many other artists.

As a writer he added an interesting perspective on his impression of the series. These are David’s words: “It as if we have seen these images a million times. Peasants in Van Gogh’s paintings. Women at mass. Mourners at a funeral. Victims waiting to be executed. They seem to have the weight of the moment on their shoulders. As if they bare the sadness of the world”

Many thanks to you both Cath and David. Also thanks to WordPress who featured my blog on Freshly Pressed I have connected with many creative and interesting new blogs and bloggers. I’m trying to keep up with everything!

A Quiet Storm

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More Pictures from Friday’s perfect storm. I warned you we liked to talk about the weather…








The sailboat docks in the frozen harbour.

I brought along an umbrella to protect my camera from the snow somewhat, it was an umbrella failure in the swirling winds. Sharp umbrella skeleton bits poking out every which way. I have yet to find a decent umbrella that can stand up to a bit of wind.
(Click on images to enlarge)
All images © Karen McRae