If Ye Break Faith With Us Who Die

 Today in Canada is Remembrance Day; the date of the end of the First World War. It goes by other names in the world, but is a common day of commemoration for war dead and those who served. I have some pictures today first featured at my photoblog over the last few years. Some years ago in April I paid a visit to the historic Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, where two large sections have been set aside as a national military cemetery.

The National War Memorial occupies the heart of Confederation Square, and is the subject of regular photographs by me. It was dedicated in the months before World War Two, and has since been re-dedicated in memory of those who fought and died in Canada's other wars and military service.

The Memorial is the heart of Canada's national Remembrance Day services, with all that you'd expect out of the occasion- including a march past of the veterans.

This photo, taken at night on April 8th, 2017, was during an evening vigil to mark the centennial of one of the most momentous battles of Canadian history. From April 9th-12th, 1917, Canadian soldiers fought to take Vimy Ridge, achieving victory in doing so, something no other Allied force had been able to do. It is one of the most consequential moments in the country's history.

A soldier who fought at Vimy has his final resting place here. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most sacred spot in the country since its installation in 2000. Each Remembrance Day since, citizens place poppies on the tomb. This was taken late one Remembrance Day some years ago.

I finish today with this remarkable painting that was on exhibit as part of a special exhibit several years ago at the Canadian War Museum. Byam Shaw painted The Flag in 1918, and the anguish of those left behind by the dead of war is its subject.

The Platinum Dunes Surfer Dude

Owner Of Leonardo Painting Identified; Movie Project Unleashed

It has been a subject of much interest since the auction sold the painting for a record price. Salvator Mundi, the reputed work of Leonard0 da Vinci, was sold at Christie’s for 450 million dollars in November. The painting, described by auction house experts as the last da Vinci, is one of less than twenty paintings by the master known to exist, all but this one in the hands of museums. Who bought the painting was a mystery- at least until now.

Reporters were summoned to the production studio Platinum Dunes for a press conference. The studio, one of the production houses for Michael Bay, one of the world’s not that bright film directors, is a familiar sight to real reporters who have been sent off on punishment assignments by grouchy editors (editor: shut up! I hate you!), as well as entertainment reporters. This reporter, who is in a state of persistent hostility with his cranky editor (editor: what did I just say? Shut up!) and who even has a restraining order in place to deny said cranky editor any personal contact (editor: I am dreaming of attending your funeral and spitting on your coffin) was among those sent off to the press conference.

Real reporters gathered amid a horde of entertainment reporters. The latter were gushing, speculating on what might be announced. The former group were wondering why they deserved being subjected to Michael Bay press conferences (editor: because you’re an insufferable bastard who deserves nothing but torment!). A spokesperson came out on stage, where a podium and full length mirror had been set up. She called for attention, and the entertainment reporters finally settled down. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the one, the only, the esteemed… Michael Bay!”

The entertainment reporters broke out into rapturous applause. The real reporters rolled their eyes collectively. Bay came out on stage, smiling in that usual vacant way of his, his eyes carrying the usual amused but not playing with a full deck of cards expression (editor: stop making fun of Michael Bay! He’s a great director!). He stopped by the podium, smiled at his reflection, and faced his audience. “Thank you! Thank you so much! It’s great to see you! And it must be great for you to see me! Of course it is!”

He paused, looked back in the mirror again, and winked at himself. Then he carried on. “You know, I’ve got a lot of things going on. Movie projects in the pipeline, long overdue acceptance speeches for the Oscars. Lots and lots of things. But the one thing I don’t have yet is something precious I can call my own, and then blow sky high to kingdom come, as they say. Until now. Could we have the curtain, please?”

The stage curtains behind him were drawn away. Standing alone there was Salvator Mundi, lit up in a soft spotlight. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Salvator Mundi. Or as I’m going to rename it, The Platinum Dunes Surfer Dude by Leonardo da Vinci, courtesy of Michael Bay. That’s the full title, by the way.”

The entertainment reporters broke out into applause. Bay kept grinning. This reporter spoke up. “You expect us to believe you bought the last Leonardo?”

Bay nodded. “Of course I did. I’ve made billions of dollars down through the years making movies and blowing stuff up. Lots of people come to see my movies, so I’ve made a killing in the industry. So why not spend half a billion bucks to buy a painting? Especially considering what I’m going to do to it. We’re talking the most expensive effects shot of all time, in my coming feature film, titled Leonardo’s Revenge. Isn’t that a great title?”

This reporter shook his head while entertainment reporters gushed. “Are you crazy?”

Bay looked confused. “Why do people keep asking me that? I’m perfectly rational, especially when I’m blowing stuff up. Now then, let’s talk about the plot. We’re talking about a film with hot babes waxing sports cars and Aerosmith themes and chases and explosions and hot babes and did I mention the explosions? We’re talking about a master thief, Jack Voleur, out to steal the impossible. We’re talking about his one weakness, the woman who got away. And we’re talking about the villain, the evil Russian oligarch arms dealer. And now, ladies and gentlemen, playing my lead, one of my favourite actors, and I know he’s one of yours… give a big hand to Nicolas Cage!”

Cage came out on stage and waved to the crowd, staggering a bit as he strode over to Bay. “Hey there! I’m glad to be part of this big film, and we’re gonna have a blast doing it. Emphasis on a blast, because that’s what Michael Bay films are all about.”

Bay nodded. “That’s right, and we’re gonna make it a big blast!”

A Reuters reporter spoke up. “You said something about the most expensive effects shot of all time.”

Bay nodded. “Yes, yes. I’ve always wanted to know what it would be like to take an item of incredible historic and artistic significance like this Leonardo and, well… destroy it in every conceivable way. So as part of the movie, we’re going to be blowing up the Leonardo.”

The entertainment reporters seemed confused. Real reporters spoke up in outrage. “You can’t do that!” this reporter objected.

“Why not? I own the piece of crap now,” Bay retorted.

“It’s a Leonardo!” the Reuters correspondent pointed out.

“Yes, well, I asked the Louvre to sell me the Mona Lisa so I could blow that up, but they told me to go **** myself. I don’t know why people say that to me. Maybe they’re just jealous of my sheer genius. Anyway, it’s going to be a big blast of a film. Cat burglars, arms dealers, hot babes, art getting blown up. What’s not to like? Thanks for coming out!”

Bay and Cage headed off stage, leaving puzzled reporters in their wake. Entertainment reporters were wondering how to spell Leonardo. Real reporters were making calls to Christie’s to inquire as to why they were so foolish to allow the sale of a master’s painting to a cultural barbarian. Art experts began quickly demanding that Bay surrender the painting to a reputable gallery. And this reporter’s cranky editor kept making excuses for Bay at every… (editor: shut up or I’ll have Bay tie you up to the painting before he blows it up!)

In the opinion of this reporter, his cranky editor needs a few decades of anger management therapy.

The Open House At The Arts Centre

I decided to post this here instead of at my photoblog, as I wanted to feature it sooner as opposed to later. Culture Days is a national celebration in Canada that takes place in the fall- this year over the three days that ended September and started October. One of the Ottawa events was an open house at our National Arts Centre, which houses our national orchestra, city orchestra, and also hosts theatre and concert performances. The building has had a large glass enclosure added to its original 60s era architecture, a project that was done for this year's Canada 150 celebrations. I stepped inside when the event was just getting underway on the Sunday afternoon. This was the first thing I came across on my visit. Sioned Watkins was the instructor for a session of gyrokinesis here at the staircase from one level to another. A very unusual name; I expect she's of Irish descent.

This view out a nearby window looks towards the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.

This is an art installation in one of the lobbies. Cloud has been here on loan from artists in Alberta. It consists of a multitude of light bulbs that can be turned on and off from the switches hanging beneath.

This is the Studio, one of the performance spaces inside the building. It is often used for chamber music or dramatic performances. I missed going into the Theatre, which is the next largest performance space.

Here we have another view of Cloud and the lobby.

This is Southam Hall, the largest of the performance spaces. Generally speaking, most of the times I've attended an event at the National Arts Centre, it's been here.

This view looks out to where we started, with the glass enclosure viewable from the original part of the building. I documented the process of the project once a month over in the photoblog, and featured the opening up of the addition in my Canada Day series. Throughout the project, the building still hosted performances by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and others.

Back in Southam Hall again, this is taken from just about the highest point in the building at the back of the top balcony looking down to the stage. There were, however, short ladders behind the chairs in this row to access the spotlights above, so it wasn't quite as high as you could go. The stage was lit up; when I first stepped inside, a musician was just finishing a sound check. 

Another view out through the glass enclosure, this happens to look towards the Chateau Laurier.

Turning to the left takes in another view of Parliament Hill, as well as the National War Memorial.

Here we have another view of that gyrokinesis class.

Returning into Southam Hall, I went up to the stage and photographed from that point of view. I found the set up a bit curious- until I saw the set list, visible in this shot, as well as who was scheduled to be performing in the building on this weekend. It was the Canadian children's singer Raffi, who was already in the business when I was a kid. So he was the musician I had spotted from high above.

The backstage area was also open. There's a lot of space here, both for storage and for a workshop. 

Beyond the backstage working areas are dressing rooms, and the corridors here are lined up with photographs of performers who have graced the stages of the National Arts Centre down through the decades. One of them particularly caught my eye: BB King, the greatest blues musician and guitarist there has ever been. 

Here we have an exterior view from the east side of the building.

And from the northwest side, taken from the grounds of the War Memorial, I finish with a view of the glass enclosure that now greets the visitor. 

Looking At Macedonia On Canadian Soil

I have another photo post today here in the embassy series, Ottawa Welcomes The World, happening here through the year at the Horticulture Building in Lansdowne Park. I will have one more in the series, and then shift others into the photoblog in September (it's been an exceptionally busy summer). 

One recent occasion celebrated the Republic of Macedonia, a place with a rich history going back thousands of years. This of course is the former part of Yugoslavia, and for part of my life, a place hidden away behind the Iron Curtain. There was a lot going on here, including art, music, crafts, food, and traditional clothing.

When I came in later in the day, there was a bagpiper on stage. The Macedonian bagpipe is bigger and sounds different from the Scottish bagpipe we're so used to.

There was also a line of dancers making their way through the crowd, many of them in traditional Macedonian clothing.

The flag of the country being profiled hangs outside the building during the event. Macedonia's flag hung along several lights at the front of the building. Visiting this event was enjoyable- I certainly learned a good deal about the country while attending, and it left me wanting to pay a visit myself.