Ghosts anyone? Seems Grace the Spirit of Memorial Hall has become a legend. Wonder if I will hear the piano playing. I hope I meet her this trip!
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Looking Forward To Meeting "Grace The Ghost!"
Doing The Radio Interview Tomorrow
Doing a recorded Zoom call talk for the CHSR-FM Arts program in Fredericton tomorrow at 430pm Mountain Time. It should be fun and interesting. Hope I can express the stories of the families and the people under the freeway clearly.
They stream on the internet, got to find that. Will try to post a link to our little 20-30 minute talk later.
Note* There is a 3 hour time difference between Edmonton and Fredericton. Atlantic time versus Moutain. Got to factor that into tomorrow, thought it was earlier :).
Memorial Hall Art Center Built 1924
Wow just learned the UNB, the University of New Brunswick was established in 1785!! 237 years ago. Interesting to know the history of places like this. Memorial Hall where the Art Center is located was built in 1924. So almost 100 years ago.
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| UNB established 1785, Memorial Hall (Art Center) builth1924 |
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Advertisement For The Two UNB Exhibitions
A little advert for the coming shows at the UNB in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200023478535930
Friday, October 21, 2022
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Poem: Not How He Died...But How He Lived
Not How He Died...But How He Lived
Summer Sandercox:Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away.
AMBROTOS KANATA Submission To The Alberta Gallery Of Art!
Woke up today thinking of a submission idea for the biggest and best gallery in Alberta, the AGA (here in Edmonton).
The submission idea would go as follows. An AGA Curatorial Staff email I am working on.
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My project is a major 15-year cross Canada effort. My idea is to do an Edmonton component for Manning Hall. The overall project is called AMBROTOS KANATA. The series I would submit to the curatorial staff would be AMBROTOS KANATA: EDMONTON.
AMBROTOS KANATA is photographic in nature, I will be making photographs on glass (Ambrotypes) in sizes from 8x10 to 35x35 inches using a variety of view cameras. Ambrotypes are a very difficult and complex wet plate photography technique that dates back to its invention in 1851. My idea for Manning Hall would be to create 10-35x35 inch framed ambrotypes of important and historical parts of Edmonton. As part of the submission process, I will include a video on how an Ultra Large Format 35x35 ambrotype is created. Ambrotypes need to be made with a mobile darkroom on the spot before the glass plates dry (that is why it is called wet plate). I would need to travel to each location with my huge 35x35 inch view camera (see photos) and my mobile wet plate trailer darkroom. Making each image would probably require 3 or 4 days of work.
If you have never seen an ambrotype before, especially an ultra large format image, you're in for a treat. It is magical, like the subject is captured inside the glass. There is feeling of 3D, in highly detailed warm tones. A magical moment of time remembered forever. Ambrotypes are incredibly beautiful.
AMBROTOS KANTA: EDMONTON subjects might include:
- AGA building
- Alberta Legislature
- Historical Schools
- Petro Chemical Plants
near Sherwood Park
- River Valley
- City Hall/ Churchill
Square
- Gibson Bock
- Fort Edmonton
- Ukrainian Village
- Hotel McDonald
- Princess Theatre
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Basilica
- Any other subjects that I or you can think of.
Friday, October 14, 2022
The Road Less Travelled.
So many people take the more traveled road when it comes to their life choices. Every now and again it is better to take the road less travelled. On that path you can often create experiences and memories that make life worthwhile.
The Road Not Taken
“THE AQUINIAN” 'The Families of the Dump" Interview
Here is the story about the families from the St. Thomas University newspaper in Fredericton, New Brunswick. I have not read it myself, find reading about ME highly uncomfortable. Hope the writer Guinevere Santaguida focused on the families, not that Yaum dude. Also hope the story brings in more people to the UNB Art Centre galleries.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Roger Tv Advert For The UNB Exhibitions
More adverts for the coming shows. This is on a Rogers Tv page link, thingy. Hope some of this advertising translates into people attending the exhibits.
Quote: William S. Burrorghs (Writer)
"There is no intensity of love or feeling that does not involve the risk of crippling hurt. It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve."
Monday, October 10, 2022
Interviewed Over The Phone
Was interviewed for the coming University of New Brunswick exhibitions by a nice young St John's University reporter. The interview will be published in "The Aquinian" University newspaper. Will post a link to the story later. I do not read those things, makes me squeamish! Tell me what you think. It was fun to the writer/reporter, a nice kind person.
3rd Day In A Row Making Ambrotypes. IT WAS GRAND!
3rd day in a row making Ambros. Am tired but happy. Will work until dark, have a sleep then drive at night the 4 hours back to Edmonton. The trailer and RV combo is working well together. Looking forward to taking 2–3-month photo making trips in the future. I am back to work tomorrow night. This was a short by great final trip of the season.
Will try to submit some of this work to the Art by Aquisition program, here in Alberta. If I can sell anything will use the money to buy silver.

A fire at night is both warming and relaxing
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| 8x10 clear glass ambros |
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| Creating art is bloody work! :) |
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| First night T-Bone barbacue dinner, second night ribs and chicken barbecue |
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| Breakfast |
Grand Old Tree
Spent more time photographing this grand old tree on ambrotype. This time I moved up from 4x5 inch plates (last year) to 8x10 plates this year. I guess that shows a degree of improvement. I would like to shoot 16x20 ambros of the tree but maneuvering the camera and getting the 16x20 ambrotype technique together, will take time!
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| What type of tree? Am unsure, need to research |
Dumped 16x20, Moved Onto 8x10
Made 1 lousy 16x20 then switched to 8x10s. 8x10s are relatively easy to make now. I think it was the smarter move for the last shooting days of the season. I needed to go home with some strong plates!
New 25 Gallon Tank For The Wet Plate Trailer Darkroom Sink
Got a newish used RV sewage tank last week for the darkroom trailer last week. New cost was $249, used with delivery was only $100. Before I was using a 15-gallon tank, this 25-gallon version fits and works much better. Slowly and surely am making improvements to the working systems and tools. Climbing the mountain to making 35x35 plates 100% in the field across Canada.
Note* This last week the tank worked great, but I almost ruptured myself trying to get it out of the trailer to empty. I need some kind of pump-hose system which will allow me to remove the wastewater without too much strain. I found out after words that 25 gallons of water weighs an astonishing 200lbs!!
The 16x20 Camera
16x20 camera set up, tree Ambrotypes today!!! 1C on waking up, high of 24C today. Will make 16x20 ambrotypes of the trees today. Will also try to wash. yesterday’s 8x10 dinosaur ambrotypes. The one I left outside in water trays froze over!! Hoping to do multi week and month Ambrotype trips next year if I retire. Handling the big cameras is difficult, not sure how I will manage the 35x35 inch machine.
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| Iced over Dino |
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| 16x20 Chamonix, with 450mm lens |























































