Streets April 2013

Took a trip through the Griff the other week to check out some old haunts. With all the construction going on in the area I was curious to see what kind of activity there has been on the walls below Notre-Dame. And as it appears there is not much happening east of Guy, but I was able to flick a few shots here and there. At least five new condo complexes are going up in the area, the towering silhouettes of construction cranes have become familiar additions to the sky line looking out towards Five Roses. And as these new developments continue to go up, so to will the efforts of the building management, and in turn the borough offices, to remove any undesirable or non marketable individual or group from the area that may impede on the living conditions of the newly established occupant population. And so it goes.

Some of these efforts can already be seen with the fencing up of areas underneath the highway on/off rampsand the installation of new video surveillance cameras in ans around the construction sites. Wellington Tunnel is directly across the street from one of the development projects. Besides the continued pad locking of the gates to tunnels and the wielding of additional plates and bars to the gate area to impede the entrance into the tunnels, nothing has been done to keep anyone from the area. It is also out of sight, next to and below Notre-Dame street. There seemed to be a bit of smoldering smoke coming from out of the main tunnel so I did not go in. It was also pad locked. There was some guy squatting in one of the adjacent tunnels. I asked him what was going in the tunnel, if there was a fire burning in there. He didn't seem concerned, and said that he knew nothing of it. I told him to watch himself and be careful and went on my way.

 

The old switch house is still closed up too. I think there is someone squatting in that area too. I saw several others squatting under the area right across the street from the spot that was fenced up leaving me to question what criteria is used to determine what area is controlled over another. Anyway, not much there anymore except a dusty parking lot and a lot of fence. I used to live in the Griff a little before all of this development started, and although I can appreciate the need to develop older areas of the city, I guess I just miss my old Griffintown.Not many flicks of the area so I through in a few from elsewhere I grabbed recently. More to come.

Stay posted.

Saturation 2013 & Star D'un Soir @ Yves Laroche Gallery

Local Montreal Kings Scan, Zek, and Stare, as well as out of towners Kems and Pun18 joined forces with Yves Laroche Gallery to bring the viewing public Saturation 2013 (Zek, Scan, Kems, and Pun18) and Star D'un Soir (Stare), a combined exhibition showcasing their latest works. The show runs until the 26th of April so be sure to stop on through the gallery to get a look at the great and innovative work that these guys have put together. Check these shots from the opening on Wednesday evening.

It was a great show, fun night, and nice to get to catch up with a few people I have`t seen in a little bit. It was also nice to see many members of the community out to support the artists. Definitely take the time to go check out the exhibition, you will not be disappointed. Yves Laroche gallery is located at 6355 Saint-Laurent, Montreal close to Beaubien Metro, you can reach them for information at 514-393-1999, e-mail at info@yveslaroche.com, or on facebook here.Congrats to all involved on a successful show and opening night.

Stay posted.

Back in Action & Making a Name

A few months ago I announced that I would be gearing up to move this blog into a full website, however, some ideological and life changes have led me back to the blogger sphere. First, the website is a project to be developed over the next while, I can promise that when I figure everything out on that end that it will be worth while and a definite step to a higher level of work and coverage. Second, I have recently been given news that I will be starting doctoral studies this coming September and will have to devote a significant amount of my energy and time to my studies and research. The user interface and ease of the blog have become more of a necessity if I am to continue covering the scene locally and abroad to any respectable degree. My apologies to those who have been waiting for a new and improved blog or photo site after the announcement. I will continue to post and document with the same vigor, integrity, and charm that I have previously brought to the table and hope that those who follow this blog will also continue to give me your time, respect and support.

With that said, I have so, so much to catch up on. I'll be dropping posts on everything from Berlin to Montreal in the last 4 months, including some long exposure and HDR shots that I have been experimenting with and learning. I'm also going through a pretty heavy organization phase as I prepare for my upcoming studies so I am trying to not to get buried under new work while putting older piles of work in proper order.

The big news this week is the premier of Patrick O'Connor's documentary film "Making a Name" at the FIFA, the International Festival of Films on Art, on Friday the 22nd March 2013. It is playing at 6:30 pm
at the Cinquieme Salle, located at 175 saint Catherine Street West. You can get tickets at the Place Des Arts Ticket Office here, they are $12 each. 

For those of you who know Patrick, he has been documenting the local subculture of which he has firm roots for over a decade. His first feature, Wreckognition, was situated in the streets following a number of Montreal's most notorious writers (and a few from abroad) as they 'bombed' and 'destroyed' everything from walls to trains. Although Wreckognition was a work mostly documenting bombing on the streets and elsewhere in the city, it was the most comprehensive compilation of any Montreal based writers in action that had been produced to that date. Making a Name is a more in depth and detailed look at the local scene featuring interviews with some of the heaviest hitters this city has to offer and footage that will satisfy even the most fiendish writers out there. the documentary also features tracks and music by the Furious One. FIFA has also set up a discussion period after the film that will have some local faces and names (including yours truly) chatting with the director Patrick O'Connor about the finer parts of the documentary and ideally some food for thought. Do yourself a favor and check this documentary out, you will not be disappointed.

If you don`t already own Wreckognition you can most likely find it at a  local graff shop or you could contact Patrick Directly through his site http://patrickprojects.com/. I believe that this is the youtube channel as well. You can find the digs on the Furious One at his site as well: http://thefuriousone.net/.

So be ready for more updates, the last few months, and check this documentary!

Stay posted.