Victory Soya Mills Silos

As seen from the hill in front of the Corus building

Happy birthday Tiffany

A big thanks to Ryan and Tiff for the opportunity to design and learn how to construct this necklace! The pearls from her broken bracelet were repurposed to become the centerpieces of this peyote-based architecture-inspired choker.

I Love Tap Water

In light of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) being given the shutdown notice by the Federal Government of Canada, here is a photo of mine hilighting the importance of things we take for granted every day. Tap water. The ELA has been a means of important and leading scientific research into the ways water systems react to contaminants and other stressors. I have used and processed data gathered in the ELA, and there is essential knowledge of natural water systems that would not exist were it not for this unique system of study. Since water systems are all eventually inter-connected globally, wonderful things like tap water are impacted by natural water systems. For instance, wetlands can filter out contaminants from water which many water filtration systms do not. Think of all the potential knowledge we will be missing out on for the savings of $79.3 million. This is just another reason for the brain drain to continue.

What a Mess on Dundas West!

My definition of chaotic beauty

Photos - Hearn Generating Station

I managed to capture only a small portion of the giant smokestack protruding from the decommissioned Hearn Generating Station in Toronto's Portlands area. Originally a coal-fired plant starting in the 50s, it was later converted to a natural gas-fired facility in the early 70s. Hearn ceased to generate power in the early 80s. Here's an analogy, or thought experiment. How many of us experience frustration and the futility of waste when our smartphones (apparently worth $600) last us a year? Scale that up to the humongous (650 000 metres cubed) power generating facility that is Hearn, which fulfilled its function for roughly 30 years.

Urban beauty

Vibrant colours and repeating patterns under the Gardiner Expressway. Found on the way home from a bike ride last week. 

Galerie Voltaire

People have been talking about this abandoned space for years (since at least 2008 from what I can gather), and it's always with the same comments: "This place has been abandoned/boarded up for years" and "But I've seen lights on." My theory is that it's not really an abandoned building. How else could its decrepit charm be maintained consistently since 2008? Then again, some artists showed there back in 1997. A quick search reveals that this is an oft-photographed building. Maybe the gallery has turned into art itself.

Rideshare

There is a recurring impression of Canada that we lack culture. I'm going to tackle this one from the architectural front. Sure, we don't have much gothic stuff going on.

Gothic stuff in Belgium

Sure, we don't have bullet holes in our columns (heck we barely have columns).

Bullet holes in a column of a building in Berlin

I don't often go to Union Station now that I live in Toronto, but going home for the holidays I was catching a rideshare from there. I was very happy to have my camera with me as I sat on a ledge outside the station.

The Fairmont Royal York Hotel