FRIENDS.

Well...this is it.

My last post.

Perhaps in the future a new version of this blog will surface in some way/shape/form.

I really enjoyed writing this blog and would like to thank those who read and commented.

Feel free to check out some of my photography: http://vampireface.ca
Or email me.

CIAO
xxo

Shaun

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD.

Note: These photos are not meant to be "good." They were taken with a toy camera and are designed to represent the overlapping/blurred/contained/focused/ childlike view (perhaps similar to my view of it as a child) of my old neighbourhood, old house and now closed elementary school.

To see through a child's eyes is to see everything in a fresh way.
New, exciting, but narrow (due to outside restrictions on travel..until you get a bike).
Children are explorative. Interested in every place, person and thing, children absorb overlapping images of items that are void of contextual boundaries.
Anything is possible.

As you grow, context through societal restrictions and interactions creates boundaries for living. Creativity is punished. Everything is not new and everything has a place.
"Crime is for the north and wealth is for the south."

As a child Edmonton feels small, comfortable and cozy. Most children stay within their neighbourhoods which allows them to become familiar with local people, businesses and nature. Even as an adult I was not completely aware of the northern sprawl and extent of the expansion to the south. With a self-centred child-like perspective, I had always felt my area of the city was one everyone was aware of. I mean...Idylwylde is the centre of the Edmonton isn't it?

Nowadays Edmonton still feels comfortable and cozy but I often wonder if that is because of the LACK of population. Space and community seems to matter more as you grow, it just isn't inherent, it is created. One could argue the lack of population allows you to know and become deeply involved in many peoples lives. You are not anonymous as everyone in Edmonton knows everyone.

My neighborhood wasn't void of characters either. There was the crazy german lady Mrs.Muser who would yell at you if you touched her lawn, there was Mr.Sorenson the Czech janitor who didn't speak English but used to bury children in his boiler room and there was the old neighbourhood legend Macho Man who used to do shirtless chin-ups on the monkey bars during recess.

I wonder if a child living in the densely populated communities in New york, London or Paris would attribute the same spatial comfort to their neighborhood or if their memories would be more influenced by the characters in the community.

As a boy growing up in a community that was formed in the mid-50's, I can relate to many of Mcgillis's tales. Idylwylde was small, tight-knit and old. These small communities offer a place for children to create memories. Eventually, however, one grows and your perspective changes but the memories still remain.

Like Mcgillis My goal posts from elementary school were fashioned out of two steel posts that were part of a baseball backstop. Eventually myself and all of my friends grew up and most have moved out of the neighbourhood. The school we went to closed and the baseball backstop was ripped out of the ground to make room for a parking lot.

THIS MEANS WAR.

I really enjoyed the reading assigned for Tuesday's class. I loved how Mike Davis's piece, although analyzing historical influence on geomorphology, produced discussion on Edmonton's future.

The class discussion during this portion of our studies proved to be a nice change of pace. However, the "pretend" disaster developed in Tuesday's discussion did not delve into the issues and intricacy introduced by Davis.

In class I had suggested that self-sufficiency in a communal sense (including private building projects and businesses, such as the new arena district, that would be able to self-produce power) would be a positive way to counteract or assist in preventing future disasters. Although this efficient utilization of resources promotes a more fluid connection with nature, it seems any sort of modern infrastructure impedes and restricts nature.

Davis points to these issues intertwined with humankind's desire to control nature.
An on going battle which sees nature rarely win (and often only due to human aggression).

"At either end of the scale, natural energies are capable of opening breaches that can quickly unravel the cultural order."

Davis points to the creation of a city as a continual effort to "manipulate nature" instead of working with nature. This concept is fascinating to me.

Born in Edmonton, I rarely left the urban centre as a child. My mother was terrified of camping (I wish she wasn't) so my family rarely went. I grew up living in and loving urban spaces, concrete buildings and mass amounts of people.

This familiarity with urban space created a lack of understanding towards the underlying natural elements. Or perhaps this urbanization of myself created an opportunity to significantly recognize the constant struggle between nature and infrastructure.

I found it interesting to think of the edge of the North Saskatchewan river bank at war with the Telus Centre, Hotel Macdonald and the University. The river valley and river are restricted to their distinct areas and deviation from this norm traditionally results in punishment (a house falling into the river anybody?). Or perhaps this is a small attempt by nature to take back its space in ruderal fashion.

CARDO / DECUMANUS. ROUTES.

Our look at the poems this week brought a me to think about mapping my placement in Edmonton. Where am I situated and why?

I began to look at the creation of Cardo and Decumanus which ultimately are the 2 main arteries in a city.

Mapping these ideas on to my neighbourhood in Edmonton brought me to look further at public transit.
There are many small, intricate routes which are offered sparingly and often only in what the City of Edmonton deems as "peak hours."

Being situated in the Bonnie Doon area, however, has placed me at a significant intersection between what I would argue are Edmonton's Cardo and Decumanus routes. The number 8 and the number 4.

As the Cardo, the number 8 is a north-south route which extends from Abbotsfield to Millwoods. This route is significant as it moves people across the river onto the riders desired side.

As the Decumanus, the number 4 is a east-west route which extends from Capilano Mall to West Edmonton Mall. This route is significant as it takes the rider from one edge of the city to the other.

I find it interesting to note that the Cardo was traditionally known for its shops and vendors while the Decumanus connected the military camps. In Edmonton these traditional Roman traits are reversed. The east-west number 4 route maneuvers directly down the vendor filled Whyte avenue. While the north-south number 8 route somewhat directs itself to Edmonton's northern army base.

Speaking in terms of the ETS, what are your cardo and decumanus?

ETS #4
ETS #8

***Oh and classmates. If you are on campus Saturday March 12 (or want to be) come stop by Dewey's between 7pm-11pm. I am putting on Art Show called Robots Robots Robots. Come say hi.

Spring soon?

EXPERIENCING ALLEYS. SHORT SENTENCES AND CROOKED PHOTOS.

Walking down an alley requires a high level of commitment. 

An alley only has two directions or one.

An alley strips you of your lateral freedom. 

An alley forces structured decisions.

An alley forces interaction when passing somebody.

An alley strips performance from property.

An alley is full of discarded experiences.

An alley is artistic.

An alley is misunderstood.

How do you experience alleys?

In the last two weeks I have walked over 60 blocks down alleys towards various destinations.

Try it.

MAP ASSIGNMENT. EDMONTON. ART. GALLERY.

robots. robots. robots.

 

I was bored one day. So I decided to put on my own art show. You should come.

DE RIVE DE BORD AL LEYS.

                                                  

                                                      




































Debord’s derive was really interesting to me.

Flow.

Movement within Edmonton is often controlled by roads and building placement.

Certain roadways act as arteries to different areas.

Sidewalks typically control and move walkers in these areas.

In downtown Edmonton your options for movement are limited.

Buildings funnel people in certain directions.

Influence.

I was intrigued by Debord’s reference to walking in a small group.

How does this influence or change the movement?

I felt as though his theory actually worked better solo.

One person flowing through architecture influenced by the general layout of a landscape.

This direct, yet mystic influence of others in your wandering adds a large variable to the results of a successful derive.

Edmonton.

I feel it is hard to move against the flow in Edmonton as there is just so much space to move in this small city.

Here is a list of some places I DO feel like I am moving against the circulation:

1) West Edmonton Mall – Anyone for making this place stroller free?

2) Whyte Ave /Art Walk – I love Art Walk. I hate running into you when you stop suddenly.

3) Hub Mall – After class breaks.

4) Post hockey game LRT – I don’t care about a new hockey stadium. I do care about moving people out of the building more productively.

4) What places move against your circulation?

Restrictions.

I enjoy putting restrictions on my wandering.

By forcing yourself to move in an unusual manner new results and experiences are often formed.

My walking.

I recently walked only down alleys during a walk around my neighbourhood.

This can be a freeing experience and one of exploration.

Which direction and which alley I moved towards had no basis. Or did it.

Social values, feelings of comfort and artistic beauty began to influence my decisions.

Interesting.
I walked for 60 blocks down alleys and didn't see one other person.
I felt extremely isolated at times, almost claustrophobic.
I couldn't turn left or right (unless I came to a t-alley).
As I made my way about Edmonton's alley system I became disoriented.
Without street signs, distinct buildings, main roadways or any form of marker, I felt like I was wandering in another world.

I took some photos.
UPDATE:
I ran out of film the other day and was in HUB mall. I stopped into the Hub Photo store (which I had never been to before) and asked for a roll of colour film. The man was out..."But wait!" he exclaimed. After returning from the basement he had ONE roll which was rolled tightly but worked "just fine."
I should've known...but regardless 24 shots later, the roll was already exposed.
Worst. I'm going for another walk.

To follow soon or soon to follow.

CHARACTERS: PERCY MARSHALL.

 PHOTOS:

CHARACTERS: 

Last week's reading of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad and its unique use of characterization brought me to think about characters in my Edmonton.

I have known Percy for over 6 years and he is by far the most interesting person I have ever met. He has incredible stories which tip-toe on a tight-rope of truth until you meet him and realize those wild stories were 100% true. 

To many he's a local celebrity (the guy who does amazing bike tricks at the bus stop) or the engineering genius or the successful DJ or the hockey all-star or (I sometimes hear stories) he's the guy who had his grade 9 graduation cancelled because his date was a bomb. 

Regardless of what he is perceived to be, Percy is undeniably intelligent, thoughtful and a good friend. 

I asked him to show me a couple of places in Edmonton that are interesting to him:

1: Baron's Red Airplane Model: C-FCKE

Location: NAIT/City Centre Airport

Info: Having graduated from NAIT's Business Program I had noticed some airplanes on the tarmac before. Percy introduced me to a new area of the runway which older models of planes reside. At this point he told me a tale of attempting to purchase his dream plane which still sits covered in snow.
Here is a sound clip of Percy talking about his dream plane:

 

2: Giant Baseball Bat Sculpture

Location: 118ave/97st

Info: My personal experience with "The Bat" was that it was weird, ugly and not needed. That of course was until Percy took me there and I discovered...it spins! Just push it...go ahead try. After getting a ride on the bottom of the bat my opinion has changed. Greatest thing in Edmonton...kidding...maybe.

Here's a sound clip of Percy's story of "The Bat":

3: Saskatchewan Drive Luge Track

Location: Saskatchewan Dr./106st

Info: Percy called me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I was interested in going to a river valley luge track....I declined. But a week later the intrigue continued to linger. After calling Percy he was more than willing to take me to the spot which the photographs do not do justice. It is a 4 feet deep trench with turns which winds down the side of the river valley. The last photo is of me giving it a shot. Unfortunately I did not have any audio of the story but Percy found this spot as it had candles and glow sticks lining its walls on the night he first came. 

If you are interested to see Percy doing what he loves most: