For a list of participants in the shootout, click here.
This is exciting. I've been waiting for a chance to show you this part of Nanaimo. I fell in love with this stonework the first time I saw it. Unfortunately, I don't know who the artist is, but an artist he is. His work is the textural equivalent of chiaroscuro, a rough arrangement of smooth stones.
The walls I love are in a north end neighbourhood consisting mostly of patio homes and condominiums, liberally dotted with intermediate care facilities for seniors. I hope the folks who live in the neighbourhood are able to get out and enjoy the beauty of the place.
I like the use of larger stones to contrast with the flagstones.
The most beautiful stonework is this, a swirling confection that seems to flow like water. I'm going to post three photos together, without comment, because it's just such lovely stuff.
When I came to the end of the wall, I found a patch of dandelions gone to seed. I tried to blow on one while photographing it, but that didn't work. Oh, for a corncob pipe, I thought - I could have blown in the mouthpiece and out the bowl, without getting in the way of my camera. There's never a corncob pipe when you need one.
My visit completed, I headed to the Parkway Walkway for my daily walk. I kept having to stop to take photos, though, as suddenly there were textures everywhere.
This was a part of the Walkway that I hadn't walked before - or not in many years. I found another underpass with graffiti. Hmmph, I thought. This is the high-falutin' part of town, but we have much better graffiti down my way. You'd think these folks could afford some gesso to cover over the old graffiti before they put on a new coat. The medium here is Paint on Paint on Paint on Concrete - altogether a shiny and smooth texture.
The saddest sight was this evidence of Unrequited Love - or perhaps, Love Gone Wrong - that I saw on the fence beside the highway. Life has texture, too - in this case, rough.
I do hope you've enjoyed your tour of North Nanaimo. I had a great time. If I ever become filthy rich, I'm going to hire that stonemason to build me a wall.
22 comments:
you are right the swirling rock is wonderful. I would love to have this wall in my home, I mean IN my home.... can you imagine a whole wall in a room with this color and texture to please the eye every day. beautiful entry!
Swirling rock is amazing! Creative artist who came up with that! I love your shots - all excellent. I hadn't thougt of graffiti as having texture, but you proved that it does!
"Sob" for the forlorn unrequited love!
Came by the visit for Theme THursday and had to read more. Great blog. Love the pictures of the stone work and that photo of love gone awry so poetic. And, the ghost "story" was great.
great photos - I especially love the stone wall photos.
The stone wall is an amazing work of masonry, & your photos are great. I also particularly like the one of the dandelion gone to seed.
Oh & by the way-- the Borges poem-- wow!
I love stacked stone. I've never seen any swirled but I love it!
The stonework is amazing. Awesome pics!
incredible stone work. it also looks very peaceful, serene. how beautiful.
my father used to represent Canadian radio stations to ad agencies in LA. He sold advertising on their behalf. One of his favorite places and stations was Nanaimo. I've been to Vancouver Is and Victoria but not to Nanaimo. Would really love to see it some day.
Ginger V, I agree. How about one long wall in the living room?
Audrey and Kate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who reacted that way to the graffiti. Awwwwww, I thought. Poor thing.
Thank you, Denise, Debbie, Chele. I'm in love with those walls. They still draw me, after several years of seeing them.
California Girl, if you do get up here, DM me - I'll take you to see my walls. ;>)
John, I am tempted to give that Borges poem a permanent place.
The rock patterns are wonderful.
I haven't been to Nanaimo in years. Your header photo brought back wonderful memories of summer vacations of the west coast.
Hi, Barbara. Yes, we have some lovely scenery. Sometimes I wonder why we travel at all (until we do, and we see the lovely scenery in other places).
I'd hire the stone mason too - clearly a talented visionary, and you captured the work very well!
Hi, Barbara. That's it. I'm going to find out who that stonemason is and tell him how wonderful he is.
That stone work is amazing!!
Some great texture there for sure, Sarah,totally love the stonework and that's a fantastic beachy sand written header you have, lovely. :)
Don't ask me why i wrote sarah, instead of sandra, i think it may be because the previous comment was by sarah,either that or the meltdown of my drink addled brain-ah well!
Never mind, Eejit, Sarah is a lovely name, isn't it, Sarah Lulu? And hi - thanks to both of you for dropping in. ;>)
And Eejit, I'm glad you like the header. I wrote that on the beach at Pacific Rim National Park, on the west side of Vancouver Island.
Thank you Sandra ....love you too!
Love the photos!
J9, how did I miss your comment before? Sorry about that. We must have posted simultaneously. I've let my fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages, but I didn't see any stonemasons bragging about the walls I photographed, and none of the names looked familiar - so I guess I will have to go knock on the door of the seniors' home and ask whose work the wall is.
Thank you, Sarah Lulu.
T - glad to see you. I've been thinking of you.
Love the stone wall photos - tons of texture there!
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