Week 4 - Museum of Civilization (Part 1)

Some weeks, micro-adventuring is harder than I thought it would be! Getting out last week was a challenge - and perhaps including a lecture the week before was a bit of a stretch. But - since these are my adventures, I guess "I" get to decide what counts!   ;)   I had hoped to have friends join me so I left my outing until Sunday afternoon. When they couldn't join me, I went, with limited time, to the Museum of Civilization.

The Museum of Civilization is a beautiful building, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, designed by Douglas Cardinal who also designed the U.S. National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC. Both reflect his very distinctive flowing style.

© Canadian Museum of Civilization, CD98-188-043

I focused this visit on the First Peoples exhibits and will return to see the other exhibits at a later date. You enter the Museum through the Great Hall...

Entry - Looking down at the Great Hall...

View (out the window) of the administrative wing of the Museum...

Sideview - the largest totem pole...

Front view...

The last time I was in this room was for a charity gala. I hadn't noticed then, or remember noticing ever, that the Great Hall smells of cedar. Cedar is by far the most prevalent material in the exhibits but I wonder - do they still exude such a fragrance or does the museum scent the room to increase the impact of the display?

My favourite sculpture The Spirit of Haida Gwaii by Bill Reid

It turns out this is only a plaster cast and the bronze version is in the Canadian Embassy in Washington. This is still very beautiful. Also by the same artist is a gorgeous sculpture that resides in the Vancouver Airport. Most of the exhibits in The First Peoples Hall deal with the tools, clothing and practices of natives across Canada. I was particularly fascinated by the some of the art.

Beautiful bead work

Huge painting...

...cropped

Myths of Creation... The Creation of Eve by Roy H. Vickers

Another version... Creation by Francis Kagige

Other parts of the museum include The Canada Hall, Face-to-Face and the Canadian Children's Museum and the Canadian Postal Museum. I will be back to visit those another day.

Parting thoughts on what I learned... Adventures are often more fun (and easier to accomplish) when shared with friends. There are some amazing Native artists and it is a style I admire greatly. Canada had a tremendous history even before the arrival of early European settlers.

Did you go on an adventure this week? Tell me all about it?