Konny Streding is a popular urban contemporary artist originally hailing from Berlin. Her works can be found across Paris and regularly feature women. The technique, called paste ups (or wheat-pastes), has been discussed here on MOTM before and you’ll probably recall my post on Lavalet.
If you’re interested in seeing more of Konny’s works, check out her website.
We’ve just returned from several days away in Victoria, where we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. Near to our hotel is the popular Beacon Hill, a 75 hectare park popular with locals and visitors alike.
Short on time, we weren’t able to see much other than this impressive art piece aptly named Moss Lady.
Created by gardener Dale Doebert, and a team of Victoria city employees, Moss Lady is tucked away in a shaded area of Beacon Hill Park.
At approximately 11 metres, she’s made of a mix comprised of boulders, cement, chicken wire, metal piping, clay-based soil and locally sourced cat-tail and club moss. Her “hair” is flowering crocosmia plants.
I particularly enjoyed Moss Lady, and the dreary weather certainly added to the experience.
While we intentionally sought her out, I can’t help but laugh when imagining how startling it would be to be wandering through the park minding your own business when you turn a corner and BAM, you’re face to face with a giant coming out of the ground.
Commonly known for being home to the popular Abbotsford Airshow, as well as cheap gas prices, I recently discovered that Abbotsford is also home to a small collection of brightly coloured murals decorating the city’s historic centre. Naturally I dragged my husband on a walk so I could snap some photos.
The historical centre of Abbotsford is really cute, and I’m hoping to visit again in the near future to check out some of the local businesses.
During my most recent trip to Paris, I decided that I’d finally check out illustrious E. Dehillerin. For those unaware, E. Dehillerin sell cooking supplies. It’s got 2 floors jam packed with kitchen items that you’ll likely never have a need to use them at home. For someone who loves to hoard kitchen toys (guilty as charged!), it’s heaven on Earth. I’m working on a post to sum up my visit .. hopefully it will be ready later this week. Continue reading “Paris Street Art – Rue de Louvre”
I love the pattern of this domed roof at Galleria Umberto I in Naples, and had to take a photo as soon as I saw it.
I shared a post a few days ago which featured a few of the smaller details that make Vaux-le-Vicomte a treat to visit. Today I’ll focus on some of the larger ones; striking tapestries and ornately designed cabinets.
Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians. Stay safe!
Bonne journée!
Marla
It can be a bit overwhelming wandering through a French château. There’s usually so much going on around you that it starts to feel like your eyes might just fall out of your head. It’s so easy to miss the little details amongst the grandeur.
During this global pandemic, I’ve been fortunate to continue working. Of course, my computer set up looks very different here at home with a makeshift table set up as my desk.
I’ve completely lost track of what each room is at Vaux-le-Vicomte. Normally I can find the information in brochures I’ve held onto and bulk it up with help from online. Unfortunately I can’t find any papers in my stash and details for Vaux-le-Vicomte online are limited.
Continue reading “Vaux-le-Vicomte, The Room with All the Gold”
The fanciest of dining rooms I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating in have been at nice restaurants or hotels. At the time, I marveled at the decor of each location. But none of them could compare to sitting down for dinner in the dining room at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Just imagine being a guest here. Where would your eyes land? There’s so much to take on and you’d know that you were in for a treat.
The large mirrors play a trick on your eyes, making the room feel much larger than it really is.
James just looked over my shoulder as I’m proofing this post, and asked why I don’t decorate our place like this. That sounds like an absolute dream but I wouldn’t even know where to start.
Bonne journée!
Marla
I took a lot of photos during my visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte. Of course I did. So many, in fact, that I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with where to start. I have decided that looking up is as good of a place as any, and am sharing an assortment of ceiling photos.
If I’ve learned anything from the amount of times I’ve walked away with a kink in my neck, it’s that these fancy French chateaux rarely have a surface untouched.
Bonne journée!
Marla
Along an exterior wall at North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay Market you’ll find a 100 foot long mural titled Coastal Energy.
Designed by local students and painted by artist Dennis Creighton, Coastal Energy is part of a city-wide series of public art called Studio in the City.
Its purpose is to give local youth the opportunity to apprentice in the arts, while working on various canvases throughout North Vancouver.
If you’ve visited Vancouver as a tourist, chances are you’ve seen this mural. Lonsdale Quay is often a stop on visitor’s lists of local places to check out.
Bonne journée!
Marla
G is for Glass. Stained glass. Said like a certain famous fictional spy who likes his favourite beverage shaken, not stirred.
Yes, that’s right. In this installment of my Alphabet series, we’re headed to Reims to visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims.
Looking through my photos last night, as I’m doing a lot more frequently thanks to Coronatimes, I rediscovered this piece by French artist, Fred le Chavelier (Fred the Knight).
Today we’ll take a look at statues on display at l’Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. I’m not religious – or knowledgeable on Christian figures – but I enjoyed each these figures. Each is featured in its own alcove, surrounded by painted brick effect, and lit by light coming in through beautiful stained glass windows.
Continue reading “l’Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe – The Statues”
Yesterday we looked at my first set of mural photos from Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, and today we’ll continue.
Continue reading “Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe – The Murals, Part 2”
As I mentioned yesterday, Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983.
The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is a masterpiece of the murals of the 11th and 12th centuries. Its outstanding character is due to its extraordinary decor, testimony to the art of representing and painting in western Christian medieval civilization.
– UNESCO
Continue reading “Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe – The Murals, Part 1”
Thank you to everyone who voted yesterday. The winner by a landslide is, “Look up!”.
So today I’m going to share with you a beautifully decorated church in France. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, l’Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is often referred to as the Romanesque Sistine Chapel because of its impressive murals (many of which are on the church’s ceiling).
Hence the Look up!
But before we head inside, let’s take a wander to appreciate the exterior of the church.
The history is a bit unclear to me but the story goes that it was originally founded under the rule of Charlamagne. The bodies of two 5th Century martyrs, Savin and Cyprian, were discovered and a church was built above their crypt to protect these Holy relics.
The church was later rebuilt in the 11th Century, expanded in the 13th Century and the spire we see here was added during the 14th Century.
The building is very imposing, and made me feel quite small in comparison.
The rear of property runs along a portion of the River Gartempe, separated by an impressively old stone wall. It’s also home to a vegetable garden and a selection of fruit trees.
I think it’s time we head inside to see what really brought us here. Oui?
See you tomorrow!
Bonne journée!
Marla
