One of the highlights of Edmonton’s Nuit Blanche 2015 was Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree / Imagine Peace. A temporary forest appeared in Churchill Square and the public was encouraged to write their wish on a little tag and hang it on a tree.
The Wish Trees at Nuit Blanche
Tagged wishes (destined for Iceland)
The Project Described
Loading Up The Forest
And Off It Goes
… till next time.
Here are some more images from Edmonton’s inaugural Nuit Blanche on 2015 September 26:
Moon Rise over Canada Place
Inside Edmonton’s City Hall – The Art and Architecture
City Hall Roof with Projector
Bikes in the Night
Art Gallery of Alberta
“The World We Want (outside the Winspear)
Citadel Theatre
Edmonton Public (Stanley Milner) Library
The Balloon-filled Pedway
and back to my favorite:
Ouroboros in City Hall
2015 September 26, Nuit Blanche finally comes to Edmonton. Here are some images from the first couple of hours of the all night arts celebration in and about Churchill Square.
Shortly after 7 PM the crowds start to gather in Churchill Square with the wish trees.
“Imagine Peace” banner in front of City Hall
Inside City Hall – a seemingly simple, yet fascinating dynamic creation – Ouroboros
A small street market for the night
“It’s not art – or is it?”
A colorful forest of wishes
The moon rise over Churchill Square and Canada Place
The World We Want
See more on the part 2 post: Nuit Blanche II
A early afternoon stroll in downtown Edmonton revealed a lot of natural and man-made beauty.
City Hall
Colorful Library Parkade Entrance
One of the things that most caught my eye was the progress on the Kelly Ramsay Tower construction. Especially impressive was seeing the unveiling of the historic facade at the base of the building.It seems they have done a great job in cleaning up the brickwork and restoring it to its former glory.
“Looking Way Up” – construction on the Kelly Ramsay Tower
the historical facade on the Kelly Ramsay Tower
planters outside the library
Falling Leaves beside City Hall
A few months back I posted Revitalizing 96th about the status of the project which is completely updating Edmonton’s 96th Street between Jasper Avenue and 103A Avenue, dubbed “The Armature” and anchoring the Quarters Districts.
Work has continued through the summer and it appears that most of the paving, with the black,white and grey paving stones is complete.
96th Street Looking South
The area is still a construction zone, the street is not open but the sidewalks on both sides have been opened up for a few weeks.
Sidewalks Open
The remaining work seems to be the landscaping details – new trees have recently been planted, there are beds of perennial grasses and installation of some street lighting appears to be next.
Final Landscaping on 96th Street (looking north)
While the street paving appears to be done, pallets of bricks suggest that more work remains. Hopefully it can all be finished up before the snow falls.
Paving Stones Remain
At the south end of the street, the new Hyatt hotel is looking good – appearing nearly complete from the exterior.
New Hyatt Hotel Nearing Completion
Hopefully this brilliant hotel will soon spur on other developments on this about-to-be-beautiful street which is currently very barren in terms of any commercial buildings.
Another (the third) in my unplanned series of portraits of Edmonton citizens. What I find interesting is that these people all asked me to take their photo. I never went out planning to take portraits of random people on the street, I never asked them if I could take their photo. They asked me and I have had no reason not to.
Street Portrait
This gentleman approached me as I was walking home. He said to me, something to the effect, “May I ask you a question?; please don’t judge me” He went on to tell me his story: He has had better days but now finds himself homeless, living in the river valley. Most saddening he says he has lung cancer and only 2 months to live.
Nonetheless, he appeared strong, his voice and spirit, that afternoon. He asked me to take his photo and asked if I would post it online. I said I probably would if that was okay with him. Regrettably I did not write down his name and have forgotten. But we shall not forget his face and spirit.
My other street portraits posts:
YEGmonton 