Next small world: I
went to the local garden show and put a bid in for a small art work ... and 'won'.
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| Sue Coleman's print - it doesn't appear to have a title - when I go to the studio I'll check up |
Get rung up - please come and collect ... after some shenanigans here ... I make
a plan to go down for the signed print by a local artist - in indigenous style
... to be collected from a couple's house nearby.
He's there, she's in Ottawa/Toronto researching ... what an amazing
home and I get shown round, shown the garden ... the view across to Mount Baker
on the mainland ... and we chat about all sorts of things ...
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| Exeter College founded 1314 |
... and that Oxford connection yet again ... she's a member
of Exeter College - so he was bemused to know I'd spent 10 years of my life in
and around the city.
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| Mount Baker from the Frazier River by Albert Bierstadt (1890) in the Brooklyn Museum |
I was admiring their art, artefacts, plants, sculptures,
talking ... and me being me ... asking more of what they do - knowing I'll be
out of my depth ... but again: start somewhere and the pieces will fill out
slowly.
This amazing couple are anthropologists ... research consultants engaged in anthropological and linquistic work here in British Columbia and Washington State.
Their
specialisation is with ethnology - the branch of anthropology that compares and
analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationship between
them.
As I was leaving with my art work I was asked if I'd like to
go round for a meal sometime ... of course was my answer! I also asked if I could have a book of theirs
... so I could try and get my head round their work: that sounds so amazing.
These are the two books I was lent or given ... the Lil'wat
World of Charlie Mack, and the translation of an 1895 German edition of Indian
Myths and Legends from the North Pacific Coast of America. Well I've only glanced at them ... and am
treasuring them ... as someone who's very lucky.
Franz Boas', who wrote the 1895 book, has an interesting
background ... I've linked across to wiki, if you wish to look ... he has been
called the "Father of American Anthropology".
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| Cowichan girl from 1913 |
So I am adding voraciously to my knowledge of many things
and particularly getting a brief glimpse into indigenous life ... it will be a
tiny understanding - trying to relate to their world ... which has so much to
offer us.
These are here to be noted as reference books should anyone be interested in further research at some stage ... but I wanted to mention them. I'm not sure how much I'll read of them ... but know that others here might be interested.
PS I'm over in Vancouver for 2 nights ... so will get back to replying at the end of the week ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
33 comments:
Just on my way over to Vancouver ... so switching off - see you at the end of the week ... cheers!
That is so cool. It amazing how there are so many connections to people! Enjoy Vancouver.
Indian Myths and Legends looks like a fascinating book. I'd like to read that one.
Enjoy your time in Vancouver. And enjoy seeing the Butchart Gardens. They're lovely!
Oh my gosh, Hilary. Winning a bid and having a fascinating experience thrown in!
Hari OM
One cannot help but think there is something serendipitous going on with all these connections! Safe trip... YAM xx
That was nice of them to let you have those books.
The journey of discovery is never ending, isn't it? I do believe we have much to learn from the indigenous people of the world. And what a wonderful painting!
What an interesting experience - one thing leads to another! Serendipity, as someone else said.
Hilary, you are getting an amazing education in that beautiful area. Did you go to Victoria BC? It's a beautiful area with the Empress Hotel and more.
I love it when I meet new people and discover that we have something quite important in common. It sounds like you had a wonderful time connecting with the artist.
Love to Vancouver. Beautiful place.
Have a wonderful time in Vancouver.
And those books sound right up my alley. I may have to track them down. Megathanks.
You certainly are using your time in Canada well and gaining so much interesting information.
What an unexpected treat. That sounds like it was a great visit.
Hi Hilary,
Good grief, eh! I shall now attempt to go back through and read the several posts of yours that I haven't read.
Your Canadian adventure continues. Of course, much of what you write, I can most certainly relate to.
I've been to Mount Baker and the house I used to own had a view of the hopefully dormant volcano that be Mount Baker.
I have a great fondness of the West Coast indigenous tribes. Way back when, I went on a three day, one hundred mile walk, from Vancouver to the aptly named town of Hope, British Columbia. The walk was in support of the indigenous tribes. The walk was named, "Moccasin Miles." Yes, Hope, the place they filmed, "Rambo First Blood."
Have a wonderful time in Vancouver. A trip on the Seabus to the North Shore is a fun trip.
Take care and have a good day.
Hugs, your rather absent friend,
Gary x
How lovely to really spend time with the artists/scholars. Sounds like y'all were quite engaged. I have no doubt you'll have a lovely meal together. Great conversation and much to learn. You are awesome. Stay inquisitive my friend.
And I loved my two days in Vancouver. Not enough time for such a lovely city.
I hope you had a grand visit.
I had to go catch up with your series! So interesting and fun. Isn’t it amazing the journeys we fined ourselves on?
Teresa
All those books look pretty good to me! I'd certainly be reading them, I hope you get a chance. This Franz Boas guy sounds interesting too, from the Wikipedia article. I couldn't work out whether he dug up people for his research - I don't think so. There are plenty of big name people in this area who thought nothing of not only digging up indigenous folk, but taking the remains off to some museum or other; some Indigenous Australian remains from the 19th century have only recently come back to their homelands because the museums made such a fuss about it.
I loved visiting Mt. Baker, for skiing and hiking. Thanks for including the view from the Frasier River - I've never managed to see it from there.
I love reading about the anthropology of the Americas. It seems new things are discovered or theories put forth all the time. Enjoy Vancouver.
How very interesting Hilary. I know little or nothing about anthropology so I would be like you, trying to get my head around it.
Enjoy your Vancouver trip.
Hiked a lot on Mt Baker , but always snowed in toward the top.
I love coincidences like that. Or is it synchronicity?
Beautiful paintings! P.S. Enjoy Vancouver:)
Nice art indeed, and that book about Indian Myths and Legends sounds like something I would find interesting
Little did you know where your bid would lead you! You certainly gained more than just an artwork, lovely though it is.
Congrats on your win! I'll bet you and the artist had a wonderful chat and visit! A small world. I hope you had a great getaway and have a wonderful weekend!
Elsie
What a fabulous chain of wonderfulness Hilary. A winning bid (yay!) leading to a fortuitous and entertaining meeting, AND more fodder for your investigative mind and heart. I'd call that just about perfect.
@ Holly - yes ... and these connections keep coming ... Vancouver was lovely ...
@ Sherry - having it translated into English has been a boon for anthropologists ... I saw it in an outlet of the Vancouver gallery for the acclaimed Haida master craftsman, activist: Bill Reid. And also at the Museum of Anthropology ...
I went to the Butchart Gardens in Victoria last week!! Post coming ...
@ Sandra - yes it was an invigorating and inspirational meeting - total surprise and delight for me ...
@ Yam - certainly life seems to be happening around me ... and I'm taking advantage of these openings as they occur ...
@ Alex - I am extremely lucky to have the books ... as I'd no idea what they'd been writing about or researching ...
@ Anabel - yes ... certainly many things lead me to different and unexpected and wonderful places ... Serendipity = they are ...
@ Monti - I know - it's a bit of a shock to my system to be quite so immersed, albeit at my own pace - fascinating though. I've been down to Victoria a few times ... and walked through the Empress ... but need to investigate it a bit more ...
@ Lee - I know when things gel ... it is extraordinary ... and this was with one of the authors, the artist I've yet to meet ...
Vancouver is extraordinary isn't it ... amazingly beautiful ...
@ EC - I did have a lovely time in Vancouver ... the books need some attention ... so I've yet to settle to read them ... I suggest via the library ... my learning needs to go up a notch ...
@ Arleen - I'm being lucky that things are slotting into place and I'm being able to take advantage of things that cross my path ...
@ Liz - it was an amazing visit ... I loved it - especially as it was so unexpected ... I'd thought a quick 'run by', collect the little print, thank them and be and off again ...
@ Gary - yes ... life has been interesting and I've allowed myself to absorb as much as I can and continue to do so via books, references etc ...
I'm sure my posts will, to a point, 'bring you home' with your memories of being here. I saw Mount Baker covered in the white stuff when I came back on the ferry last night ... and I won't get to Mount B ... but will see it regularly ...
Your walk sounds interesting ... something I'd never consider ... so admire all who do it ... and that's a long way ... I'd no idea where Hope was ... so you made me look it up - and I see it's up the Fraser Canyon. There is more support and understanding for the indigenous tribes ... notwithstanding the challenges ...
Thanks - Vancouver was wonderful and I got an idea of what the city is about ... all the beauty, all the amazing places to see and visit - and of course glanced at things ... I didn't get a sea plane ride, or the sea bus, ... or many other things - but at least know a few things I missed and had intended to see ... still I've an idea now of what's what for my next visit ...
And thanks for your lovely comment ... I can see your British Columbian love of the area coming through!
@ Joanne - that visit was so fortunate ... I'd love to meet up with them more often ... but they're very busy and so we'll see what happens. Much to learn - that's the thing ... I am always inquisitive.
I agree re Vancouver visit - I definitely didn't have enough time ... at least a week ... with constant visits out ... there's so much to see ...
@ Teresa - thanks ... it's good to be able to write up some of what I'm experiencing ... and make it memorable for me. Yes - I'm somewhat amazed at where I am in life ... but there's lots ahead ...
@ Sue - the books need some serious reading - so I do need to set time aside. My thought on Boas was that he was studying anthropological collections ... though perhaps he brought some back himself - but as this was the 1800s ... and the 'early collectors' of the world were out in force - it is a distinct possibility - without realising the implications - both culturally and historically ...
Lack of understanding and indifference by the western colonisers held sway in the actions of the 1800- mid 1900s ... now we are becoming more aware ...
@ Dan - Mount Baker sounds like it is a wonderful natural area for skiing and hiking ... I will only ever see it from the Canadian side of the border - but it stands tall and proud ...
@ Susan - there is so much we are beginning to understand more of ... and the discipline of anthropology certainly helps us put life pre western civilisation into some form of perspective ... cultural life evolves. Vancouver was brilliant!
@ Jo - my brain is absorbing rather a lot and trying to get my head around things ... but it's so stimulating ... Vancouver was lovely ...
@ Steve - it was covered in snow yesterday ... not sure if that's usual - but certainly there's snow around the top of the mountains here in British Columbia ...
@ Liza - it seems to be synchronicity ...
@ Mark - thank you ... I enjoyed Vancouver ...
@ Jo-Anne - the little print is lovely ... and I'm so pleased to have both the books ...
@ Keith - strange isn't it - as I wrote the bid down ... I hoped I'd win the print - but definitely gained a very happy lot more than I'd bargained for ... which leads onwards ...
@ Elsie - it was one of the authors I met ... but hope to meet the artist some time - or at least go to her studio near here ...
@ Deborah - yes ... fodder for my mind and heart - you rightly describe it ... the positive element of life. The chain of wonderfulness does lead on ... so much else to find out about ...
Thanks so much to you all ... these discoveries are all leading me on to new ideas and thoughts ... my brain, at the moment, is forever expanding!
I'm back ... and will now be bending your minds to new and exciting 'findings' of various trips and places ... take care, have good weekends and see you soon - cheers Hilary
Congratulations! What a wonderful bounty of good luck! First you place the winning bid on the artwork, and then... bonus!!!... you get to meet such interesting people. I suspect they were thrilled that you asked so many questions. Showing interest in their work and home must've felt very flattering. (But you and I both know you were genuinely interested!)
Have a wonderful weekend. Cheers!
wow! your time in Canada us turning into so many cool adventures. your new friends sound way interesting. i know you'll have lots of fun with them and learn lots more about the area where you live. cool you won a painting and it led to such a neat adventure.
I notice they sell needlework of her prints...
That makes my fingers itch! :-)
@ Susan - it was meant to be I guess ... though I wasn't expecting to meet one of the two authors and hope to meet Dorothy the next time they suggest we meet. I suspect my interest, the knowledge I've gained via blogging and my English/Oxford connections certainly helped ... I was honest and said I knew nothing - which is true ... as you say I was and am genuinely interested. Just lucky ...
@ Lenny - how wonderful to see you ... oh yes lots happening up here ... and I've more to tell you/write about for the blog - I've been very lucky ...
@ Jz - oh gosh I didn't see that her work was licensed to be produced in cross-stitch ... how delightful ... well worth knowing about - thank you for pointing this out to us ...
Thanks so much to you ... always wonderful to see you here - cheers Hilary
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