ART ...ode to light and focus on the feet

Starting with Fellini and ending with an Octopus seems a good way to honour feet.  Light is a reference to photography, where images are captured through waves; action of radiant energy.  In my view, the true and original definition of photography.

If you haven't had a chance to see "In Search of Fellini", I'd recommend it.  I love Fellini and the way he played with storytelling via film.  In Search of Fellini is a charming contemporary movie that references the Master, and even though is not as artistically cutting edge for it's time, is worth the watch.  It might just inspire a Fellini marathon of trying to understand some of the 28 creative works he made during his lifetime.

Dolce vita, was one of those films and the "sweet life" (or good life, or a life of heedless pleasure and luxury) seems to be a fun way to approach the elements of the Octopus.  The Infill of project 851 has affectionately been named the Octopus by my Mother, the head of our Fellini family.  When the three generations of our crazy family were looking at design ideas Mom spontaneously called the design we liked the Octopus and it stuck!

That seemed like ages ago and many tentacles have been waving ever since.

Speaking of tentacles, did you know an Octopus has three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood?  Two hearts pump blood to the gills, while a third circulates it to the rest of the body. The nervous system includes a central brain and a large ganglion at the base of each arm which controls movement.   When you start to look closely and research this creature you realize it's an alien of sorts.

I'm quite happy to include this 8 tentacled reference into the project and find joy in integrating it Fellini style where appropriate.  This week the Octopus made it's way into the Big House through designing lighting.  During the Eastside Culture Crawl I came across a great lighting designer at the Mergatroid building -- Robert from Sasamat Creative.  The crystal light spoke to me and we found a way to bring it home. 

Now another tick has been added to the decision making box  -- 9 crystal lights hanging at the Big House.  It will be made in the spirit of Dolce Vita and nod to the Octopus, shaped as an octagon...In Search of Fellini.

PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS...a wall?

Heading on site everyday with a brain full of questions and eyes wide open looking for opportunities and details that come into play with decision making.  This has been my life.  My rectangle (cel phone), the external hard drive of my brain and eyes, is constantly in action.  One decision has been made -- the wall of memory has been picked.  This will be the place where a nod to the past will be exhibited.  

Here are some images of the people, places an things that will be incorporated onto that wall.

Photo credit for Mrs. Lau on the back porch:  Esther Rausenberg

How all these elements will come together on the wall (last image of a wall in the making) are yet to be determined.  Ideas welcome! ...but at least one more decision has been made.

COMMUNITY -- it takes a village to deal with a window

Actually it takes a village to do a lot of things these days.  This week the exciting things that have come into play involve our everyday viewing place, perhaps the place we take for granted.  Next time you look out a window here's a little something to think about:

Courage

by Robert William Service

 Today I opened wide my eyes,
And stared with wonder and surprise,
To see beneath November skies
An apple blossom peer;
Upon a branch as bleak as night
It gleamed exultant on my sight,
A fairy beacon burning bright
Of hope and cheer.


"Alas!" said I, "poor foolish thing,
Have you mistaken this for Spring?
Behold, the thrush has taken wing,
And Winter's near.
"
Serene it seemed to lift its head:
"The Winter's wrath I do not dread,
Because I am," it proudly said,
"A Pioneer.


"Some apple blossom must be first,
With beauty's urgency to burst
Into a world for joy athirst,
And so I dare;
And I shall see what none shall see -
December skies gloom over me,
And mock them with my April glee,
And fearless fare.


"And I shall hear what none shall hear -
The hardy robin piping clear,
The Storm King gallop dark and drear
Across the sky;
And I shall know what none shall know -
The silent kisses of the snow,
The Christmas candles' silver glow,
Before I die.


"Then from your frost-gemmed window pane
One morning you will look in vain,
My smile of delicate disdain
No more to see;
But though I pass before my time,
And perish in the grale and grime,
Maybe you'll have a little rhyme
To spare for me.
"

Poem by Robert William Service

I like this poem for many reasons, but mostly for the things I've learnt through the process of bringing Project 851 into reality.  To be a risk taker rather than a developer takes a toll on one's energy in this town, and possibly globally now, so to take moments of joy are more important than ever.  Another reason to appreciate poetry is to reflect on the history of the people, not only who lived in 851, but in this community. There have been many  that have had the courage to look out their windows and see what is the right thing to do. These are a few of my favourite things. 

Windows going in!!

PROGRESS... from pennies to palms

There are a lot of materials that get embedded in a project.   Of course, there are the traditional things like wires, pipes and insulation that go in a build but what about the personal secret things; things that tell a story.   Project 851 has many stories as you'll find under the Big House section.  The history of the people posted May 16, 2016 onward give a glimpse into all those shades of telling and unlimited story possibilities.   Honouring those before also made me think of what is being carried forward so when putting the love into this project we added a few secrets right into the build. What would your quiet secrets be; the one's embedded in your home?

Pennies went into the foundation.  One beautiful sunny day my Mom and I went to the house and placed them into the freshly poured concrete.  We talked about the loss of the penny and also all the hard work and penny pinching things that brought us to a place where Project 851 could happen.  I also love the penny as a symbol of copper and all it represents. 

Growing up as a child of immigrants we learnt that saving your hard earned money was a positive pattern of behaviour.  Even if you had the money didn't mean you bought what you wanted because it was more important to save for a "rainy day".  Vancouver has a lot of those but  as I've told my Mother "it's raining now".  Those pennies have come in handy and are at the base of these structures. Here's to hoping they stay put!!

Another secret embedding went into the project; okay,  not so secret now that I'm writing about it.  As a child we were told that we must remember Palm Sunday and as a family we always went to mass on that day.  I was not the biggest fan of attending church but understood this was a significant day, not because we received something; the palm, but because of my Dad's story. 

During the war, that would be WW II, he had a very close call and was almost killed.  He told us that planes were flying overhead and they all thought they were "theirs" but soon they realized that was not the case.  He was wearing a heavy cavalry coat and as the bullets were flying he hit the ground and his coat spread out as he went horizontal.  The bullets came down and went through the coat not even a foot away from his body:  that happened on Palm Sunday.  As a nod to his life, palms are now in the wall at the Big House.

When I talk to others about their family traditions and cultural building stories there are so many interesting discoveries.  One I like also came to me this week by Lucas, one of the guys working on site.  He told me that in his country, the Czech  Republic, they burry a glass bottle with a story of the family and names of people who built the house in the ground.  How perfect!  Here's a bottle I have that was in the foundation of the property that came my way some months ago -- it will be going back to hence where it came!

(as you can see, I'm not afraid to get my hands a little dirty)