Winnipeg by Winnipeg: Exploring Winnipeg and Beyond gets picked for printing.

I write because I enjoy it, I’m not paid to craft these pages it’s a labor of love.  A few months ago local bookseller McNally Robinson issued a call in local newspapers for photo submissions for a book that would be about Winnipeg by locals. Thus the Winnipeg by Winnipeg project was launched.

McNally Robinson Store in Grant Park Shopping Center

 Over the course of almost five years of blogging I’ve amassed hundreds of photographs of my adoptive city, any number of which would be great for such a publication.  I spent hours digging through my archives looking for just the right shots for submission.  Lighting, composition, and content I knew were going to be judged to be worthy of inclusion in the book.  Last night was the book release event and I had made the cut with one of my photos gloriously reproduced and put into print for the world to see.

Photographers and guests crowd the store to capacity.

 Over one thousand photographers submitted photography and less than 100 were chosen to be included in the book, I was in rare company indeed.  Last night we all gathered together eager with anticipation to see the finished product in a swanky affair hosted at McNally Robinson’s flagship store in Grant Park Shopping Center.  Photographers were professional and amateur, young and old, from every strata of society, giving a true cross-section of life in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg by Winnipeg Cake.

 Photographs from the book were shown on a large screen as each artist was called to the front to receive congratulations and copies of the book.  Some of the shots were simply amazing, creative and revealing.  Showing not only the highlights of Winnipeg but also its darker and arguably more interesting sides.  Darkness and light, beauty and despair all coming together to make this city we call home.

St. Boniface Cathedral from the Red River.

 My shot shows Winnipeg relaxing on Canada Day, a single kayak paddles down the Red River in sight of the St. Boniface Cathedral.  One of many photographs taken at the Forks Market.  I am proud of my accomplishment in making the final product.  But my personal pride is secondary to the feeling I got last night when I saw so many Winnipeggers come together to celebrate our city with warts and all.

Celebrating with my copy of Winnipeg by Winnipeg. Check out my image on page 17 of the book.

 Do yourself a favor explore Winnipeg; check out the back alleys and the boulevards.  Get to know its friendly citizens if not in person then in the pages of Winnipeg by Winnipeg.  You’ll be glad you did!

 

We’re here, just get used to it.

I’m getting so sick and tired of the anti-blogger backlash these days. Who says that we should not have a voice?  The opportunity to speak out?  Lots of people with boatloads of cash can say what ever the hell they want.  So now that everyone potentially has a voice the upper crust has something to say about us talking back just smacks of oppression in the worst form.

The Gutters.com

Listen Bub, I never pretend to be anything I am not.  I am not a reporter. I am not a scientist, I am a guy who has the means to share my experiences with a slowly growing crowd of like minded folks.  I tend not to rant and rage excessively.  I don’t generally care what Billy Bob Thorton is wearing on any particular day. In fact if I saw him filming here in Winnipeg I would probably just let him be.  I don’t need his autograph and I actually just finished reading his book and agreed with 90% of his rambles.

People deserve space and yes bloggers do tend to go overboard, but please don’t judge us all with the same gavel.  Some people are just mouthy and want to make money and spread gossip, that is never going to change.  Just hit your local spa or beauty salon if you want to refresh your memories on this sad fact of life.

Some people are busy bodies and others like myself most times could give a shit.

If you can read, do check out Billy Bob’s new book, it’s a great read.  Also check out The Gutters.com  it’s normally a very funny comic parody website.

See guys all bloggers are not DICKS. Now fuck off and go back to work.

I’m done now.

Bob

Leo Mol: A master with bronze.

With the arrival of spring here in Winnipeg I got to thinking about all of my favourite haunts. One of my favourite places to hang out and enjoy a nice sunny afternoon is Assiniboine Park. Within the sprawling acreage there are riding trails, formal gardens, duck ponds and the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.

Located conveniently adjacent to the foot bridge spanning the Assiniboine River, the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden showcases the artistic mastery of one of Winnipeg’s own. Born Leonid Molodozhanyn in Ukraine January 15, 1915. He studied sculpture at the Leningrad Academy of Arts and was influenced by Arno Breker and undoubtedly war-torn Europe of the 1940’s. He immigrated to Canada after the war with his new bride Magareth and made Winnipeg his home until he died July 4, 2009.  His credits include the Order of Canada, Order of Manitoba.  He also held honorary doctorates from the Universities of Manitoba, Alberta, and Winnipeg.

Leo Mol’s work graces the Vatican, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and many churches and cathedrals in Canada including St. Mary’s Catholic Church in my home town of Fort Frances. Working not only in bronze but also in stained glass and paint; his commissions came from around the world.

Walking through the sculpture garden on a warm sunny day, perhaps in the morning with the sun just peeking over the treetops and the birds waking from a cheerful slumber chirping softly one can feel at total peace. The smell of dew fills your head as you walk through the paths and ponds in this bronze wonderland.

Take a walk with me now as we walk the paths in the park enjoying a beautiful day with the bronzes of Leo Mol.

Entering the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.

Entering the Sculpture Garden from the English Garden

Why We Blog

Lots of people ask me why I blog and I rarely have a straight up answer for them.  Sometimes it’s because I need to get something off my chest.  Sometimes it’s because I like to post some pictures I have taken.

But in the end I guess it’s just because I have a voice.  One of many howling in this sometimes cold and inhuman world.  A voice that needs a place if not to be heard, then to be spoken.

If someone reads what I say that’s a good thing, if it’s good enough to be talked about that’s better.  If it’s shared and on and on and on.

The point is I guess that we are the voices of the free, we have the right to yell and rant or cry.   Many of us will give thanks this week.  Speaking of love and family, that’s cool too.

But the point is we can.  We are able, and we must.

As long as we have the ability we should express ourselves, because we can.  Let us rage about punk music in London, or cry about the death of a relationship.

This Internet is a glorious thing, for the people by, strangely enough the military.  But it’s ours now and let us never ever give it back.

Let us love and rant and share and care.
Why?

Because we can!!

I’ll get off my soap box now.

Bob

P.S. Because I can let’s have some porn star dancing!!

Gord Downie: Canadian Musical Legend.

For anyone who is a fan of The Tragically Hip the title of this post should come as no surprise.  For the rest of you, sit back as I try to capture the spirit of a Canadian poet, songwriter, musician, wise man and raving lunatic.

 

Gord Downie (Photo – Robert Ogden)

 

I had the great fortune of being offered a ticket to see Gord Downie and his new band The Country of Miracles last night in concert.  For the record I am a fan of The Tragically Hip and have been so since I first heard the song Little Bones, off the Road Apples album in the early 90’s.  The catchy lyrics and rocking beat lead me to other tracks such as 50 Mission Cap,  New Orleans is Sinking

 

Gord Downie Singing a Duet with Julie Doiron. (Photo – Robert Ogden)