Blog - Sacred Places

Jun

2021

Would Anyone Care What I Had for Breakfast?

Tidal Pool, New Zealand

During my travels with my wife in many countries over several years we experienced many an event that at the time may or may not have appeared to be significant. But looking back over the years I find that disconnected pieces do fit in place.

In future posts some of these occasions will be recalled, and recounted with remembered detail. And as each is recorded others will come to mind setting off a train of thought.

Our Manitoba travels were in the main to discover and record places of worship. And by golly did we find some. The goal now is to post all of them on www.sacredplaces.ca. It will take time, though, to load all of the more than 700 onto the website. In addition there are (will be) sacred places we found by chance in other places or were directed to by strangers.

Of course the initial intent to publish a book on Manitoba’s heritage churches still remains.

Some encounters with people included being

• mistaken for church robbers;

• refused entry by the priest in charge;

• refused entry because the church was scheduled for demolition;

• approached by an abused wife to return a collection plate stolen by her husband.

Other blogs may have no connection to churches, or religion, or faith. Here is a sampling:

• on crossing the longest swing bridge in New Zealand;

• meeting with a bull (calf) in a bull ring;

• overcoming claustrophobia to crawl into a pyramid;

• travelling camel-back in the dark to observe sunrise from a holy mountain; and

• climbing into a volcano’s crater.

For encapsulated histories of sacred places please visit www.sacredplaces.ca

For more of my photographs on other subjects please visit www.theimpressionists.ca

Jun

2021

“Kill it! Kill it! It’s a bee!”

The cry came from a woman at the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver.

We were at a railing overlooking the water. There were certainly more interesting things to observe than a wandering bee. Hardly the place for a bee, anyway.

The crowd reacted dramatically, rushing away from the woman.

My reaction, however, was vocal. I do not remember the exact words but the gist was “Leave it alone. What’s it done to you?”

People moved away from me as well then. Obviously the woman and I were both crazy about bees – but for differing reasons.

I did not see the bee, and I don’t think many others did, either…

• • • • •

From the time I can remember I had found it disturbing that some find it necessary to destroy other creatures just for being there. Perhaps it came from the environment at home. We all liked and cared for animals, irrespective of what form or size they happened to be. And so it was, I suppose, with that straying bee in an unusual place.

• • • • •

I do not know if bees were endangered in 1986. But endangered or not, why destroy them? Bees are pretty important in our lives. They are responsible for pollination, the process that produces food for us humans. But how many know that? Or care?

We have domesticated the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) to produce honey and pollinate crops. The same has been done in southern Asia with the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana).

Today bees are in danger of extermination due to different causes. They include infection by parasites, loss of habitat, and the use of cell phones. Yes, cell phones, the signals of which disorientate bees, preventing them from behaving naturally.

Bees produce honey for our consumption, and wax for such creations as candles, soap, lip balm and cosmetics. To a great extent our existence on this earth is dependent on theirs.

Don’t kill them just because they happen to be bees.

• • • • •

The town of Falher in Alberta claims to be the “Honey Capital of Canada.” With good reason. At one time more than two million kilograms of honey were produced annually from over 35,000 beehives in the region.

May

2021

Being grateful for an unknown artist’s gift

It was not quite winter yet, but the last leaf had fallen.

Behind the tangled network of branches was the wall, its brick courses showing the ravages of many a harsh season.

I passed that way often paying little attention to what had become familiar. However, on one of those warmer fall days when the sun was shining and the air breathless with intent the transformation was thrust upon me.

In the time between when I had been there before and now the space had changed. Gone was the boring repetition of brown bricks. Instead there were colours covering the wall. In formless patches, yes, but in colours. They were arresting enough to literally stop me in my tracks to admire the work of some anonymous person: some self-effacing artist who had had the gumption to effect the change.

I did not have my camera with me at the time. It mattered not, though. There was no question the mural would last for a while, and I would be back with the camera. And I was, at several times and seasons.

After these many years the mural has weathered. Its glory has faded.

I remember, though, the pleasant surprise of encountering it the first time. I still wonder why and by whom it was created. There is no question it made my day and has since delighted all who have passed by.

So, from me, a very belated “Thank You!.”

May

2021

Canada 125. Celebration of the Nation

While his business card indicates he’s a photographer, Tyrrell Mendis opted to use a different art form – collage – when he submitted cover art for this issue of Uptown Magazine.

Tyrrell was one of two Winnipeggers who responded to our call to artists last month to create an Uptown cover in celebration of Canada 125.

Eleven-year-old Rebecca Perlmutter also submitted one of her drawings, a brightly coloured detailed scene of people enjoying fireworks in the park.

A picture’s worth a thousand words, so we are happy to turn our July cover into a visual tribute to the country’s 125^th anniversary. Along with the artwork Tyrrell provided an artist’s statement describing his creation.

“I elected to go with a collage of photographs to depict the various influences that have shaped Canada over the years and made the country what it is today. The images range from the old and faded picture of the Fathers of Confederation to the Canadian flag, waving proudly against black and blue skies, indicative of troubled times and calm periods in our country’s history.

“The packages topped with numerous bows represent our individual contributions to the country, gathered together with the collective ribbon of unity. The soaring columns touched by a single person symbolise the strength of the individual in both supporting and guarding the country, and also the country’s impressive growth in stature.

“But who we are cannot be considered in a void. Canada’s place in the global context is indicated by the small world – for it is, indeed, a small world – and captions that refer to some aspects of Canada and Canadians. Finally, what this is all about is shown by the single bow and the inscription ‘Canada 125’ : a birthday greeting.”

Our July cover is our way of saying Happy Birthday, Canada! Across the country this year, there are more Canada 125 events happening than you can shake a proverbial stick at. Good thing, too. It’s high time we rallied ’round the flag and pounded our chests about our homeland.

The United Nations has ranked Canada the best place in the world to live. All you have to do is travel a bit, read a bit, talk to people from other lands, and you’ll realize over and over again that the Canadian standard of living is second to none.

It is time to celebrate that fact. This is the land of opportunity; let’s strive towards making it even better.

— HEIDI QUIRING, EDITOR

May

2021

Searching for Churches. My First Partner – from Hungary

Camilla was a refugee from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

One stormy night she fled from home with her boyfriend. All they had was what they wore and could carry with them.
They succeeded in getting into Austria. Eventually they arrived in Canada, ending up in Winnipeg.

I met Camilla in Winnipeg many years later at a Continuing Education course on photography.

It so happened that we were partnered for a field trip to produce a video of our choice. Camilla suggested we work on gravestones in a historic churchyard. I was interested. Maybe I would learn more about Winnipeg churches in the process.

We had time to visit only one church, though. Camilla selected St. John’s Cathedral. Although I had been in Winnipeg since 1968, I had never been there. What’s more, Camilla knew a lot more of Manitoba’s history than I did.

Camilla was very interested in my project to photograph old churches.

Neither of us had much spare time, though. She was employed at The University of Winnipeg. I was with the Province of Manitoba. So we would work together, but independently.

We also agreed — in our ignorance — that the two of us would be able to complete the work in one summer. So, better yet, why not include Saskatchewan’s churches as well? But, being foreigners neither of us was aware of the several hundred churches in each province. So, so much for ignorance. So much for dreams.

When realisation dawned our plans changed. It would be only Manitoba and the churches would have to be over 50 years old.

Our collaboration never got off the ground, though. Camilla took ill. For a while she was able to keep shooting.

Camilla passed away soon after.

May

2021

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 3: Finding Treetops Instead of Steeples

On each of our usual weekend trips my wife and I visited a different part of the province. And as we travelled we kept our eyes peeled for steeples rising above treetops, or buildings glimpsed between trees. My wife did most of the looking since I was the driver. Often a distant treetop would appear to be a church spire. Then we would try to reach it by way of whatever roads needed to be taken. Most often, though, we were disappointed. So, on with the searching.

On the few occasions, though, when a treetop did turn out to be a steeple after all, we were both thrilled. Then it was a matter of identification, made all the more difficult if the building was in disrepair or was abandoned and had no signs or inscribed stones.

Our on-site and en route record keeping consisted of handwritten notes on 5”x 3” index cards, one for each church. My wife kept the notes, making sure she got as much information as possible.This would mean about approach roads, location and structure. Each card was dated and numbered in sequence for each day’s visits

So why, you may be asking, didn’t she use an electronic device for all this. Well, why not indeed? For the simple reason that we did not have one. And why was that? Well, because they were not in existence.

However, thanks to my wife’s diligence I have an index card for each of the churches we visited together for over 35 years. And if I ever need to verify something when my memory fails, the index cards are there for confirmation.

May

2021

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 2

I believe that however dire the situation, one should always look for ways to help.

However helpless one may be in the circumstances, awareness is essential. And awareness comes with involvement. And so with the disappearing buildings around the world, where one needs to be conscious of what once was.

Although I have been away from my home country for decades and have but few physical connections now, I can still remember what I grew up with. I remember with some degree of loss. Back then I had neither the opportunity nor the means to photograph the country’s historic sites: the temples, the monuments, the relics, and the very places where these are.

But now in Manitoba, whose history is nowhere near as long as my country’s, I could do something.

It was this experience, perhaps, and perhaps a subconscious desire to catch up with my past that motivates this project to record for posterity.

Please refer to my earlier blog to see how I believe it happened. Not as a conscious and determined effort but as a seeping into my consciousness.

I now had the means and the opportunity to do what I was not able to do as a kid: to record to my heart’s content whatever historical artifacts still remained. Indeed that is how my collection of photographs of places of worship in Manitoba came about. I have over 700 of them recorded on film.

As time went by I went looking for these vanishing buildings. At the time I had no guides, no directions. We had two copies of the Manitoba Road Map. The one copy in constant use was tattered and marked. The other was a spare, just in case.

May

2021

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 1: Assimilation

There was no flash of lightning or roll of thunder to announce my decision to take pictures of disappearing things. It was, instead, a process of assimilation and conversion of experiences into a collection of images.

That began over 30 years ago when I photographed anything and everything that caught my fancy. However, without any conscious awareness my work developed into recording bygone things, of the neglected, the deteriorating, the aging and fast disappearing; natural or human made.

The emphasis evolved into the archaeological and historical – especially places of worship.

Perhaps it was so ordained, for my regular work took me to places I had not been to before. And that’s where I found them, falling apart, abandoned, and perhaps forgotten. But often the next time I happened to be there, they would be gone without a trace.

In rare instances some telltale remnant reconfirmed what I already knew. Here there once had been something that many had visited, many had loved.

When I was born in the then Third World country of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) the restoration of archaeological sites was neither affordable nor justified. Since then new historic places have been found and many are being restored for their intrinsic worth.

Canada’s recorded history is nowhere as long as Ceylon’s, but many of its structures still need to be preserved. It is incumbent on us to nurture the memories when the reality is gone.

Jan

2021

Photographer’s Statement: Why I Do It

My photographs are my way of preserving what now is and will never be again, recorded on film without recourse to darkroom magic or digital manipulation. They are the truths of the moment, unbiased perceptions, the specific details that represent the whole. Here colour, form, texture, pattern, shadow and light blend, contrast or harmonise as they create a mood, evoke a feeling, or satisfy a need.

Thus my photographs of the pioneer places of worship in Manitoba are an attempt to capture, and preserve, the spirit of each sacred building; the two dimensional extrapolation of the the motivation for its creation: the ultimate expression of dedication and faith.

Therefore the images are not intended to be only a documentation of what remains in rotting wood and crumbling stone but an evaluation of the premise, the process and the project – in each instance different, in some instances unique, and in all instances significant.

Essentially each photograph is also a tangible record of a historical state and, as such, one that will never be again. Collectively they are a visual reference to part of our heritage. These are the works of art of persons long gone recorded now for generations to come. They are the landmarks on both a permanent spiritual landscape and a constantly changing physical one.

But the narrow and restricted limitations of a single exposition are inadequate to extend the understanding of the where, the why and the when of pioneer church building. Hence, to further extend the experience of these historic images to as wide an audience as possible the intent is to circulate Testaments of Faith, Manitoba’s Pioneer Churches as a travelling exhibition.

This 48-piece exhibition was hosted at 12 locations around the province from 2005 to 2008, and at six other galleries thereafter. It is now available in whole or in part for display at other venues.

Jan

2021

Faith in a New World

For the first settlers in Manitoba, irrespective of their origins or religious affiliations, construction of a place to worship was an important commitment. In spite of having to cope with harsh new realities they found time to create buildings to profess their faiths.

Today many of those structures no longer exist. Many have been demolished after having fallen into disuse. Others have been destroyed by age, natural forces or human activity. Some have been relocated or been adapted for other than religious use. Of those remaining only a few are being cared for, and those that are not will soon be gone. A compelling reason therefore to have some record of what still exists, to create a heightened awareness of their current value, and their fragility.

My touring exhibition Testaments of Faith: Manitoba’s Pioneer Churches is an attempt to achieve that. It is a commitment to photograph the relics of Manitoba’s heritage that are still visible in the landscape. But a touring exhibition has limitations in terms of composition and number. However, it is my expectation that the few images in the exhibition created a greater awareness of what are still available for care and preservation right on our doorstep before we step on them uncaringly and destroy them for ever.

The next stage is a series of books, the first being Of Wood and Stone, Manitoba’s 19^th Century Churches. Some of the images therein are posted in the website sacredplaces.ca

Jun

2020

Guanajuato, Mexico. Iglesia de San Cayetano. 1765

The San Cayetano church was built near the opening to the La Valenciana mine. It overlooks the city of Guanajuato from a hill beside the road to Dolores Hidalgo.

The church is one of the finest of colonial churches in the Churrigueresque Style. This Baroque art form, unique to Mexico, merged the Spanish artistic style with the abundant gold of the country.

The church is filled with several paintings and floor-to-ceiling carvings in white cedar covered with 18-karat gold leaf.

The church is built of cantera, a pink volcanic stone which was carved into intricate altarpieces around the entrances. The irregular shaped atrium in front is encircled by a wall topped by merlons.

Andres de la Riva was the architect of San Cayetano church. Its master carpenter was Manuel Antonio de Cardenas. However, neither lived to see the completion of the church. Jorge Archundia became the new architect, and Jose Simon Cayetano the new master carpenter.

Construction of the San Cayetano church began in 1775 funded by the earnings from the mine. The building was sponsored by mine owner Antonio de Ordenez y Alcocer who had a history of going broke on failed mines. But he reopened La Valenciana in 1760.

La Valenciana was first worked in 1558. It was abandoned the following year when it was considered to have been exhausted. However, the largest silver vein in Mexico was found in this mine, at a depth of 80 metres. The discovery was recorded by Baron von Humboldt who was studying mining operations in the area in the late 18^th century.

For discovery of the silver vein King Carlos III bestowed Antonio de Ordenez y Alcocer with the title of Count of Valenciana and Viscount of the Mine in 1780,

The church was built to give thanks to his patron saint St. Cajetan (San Cayetano).

With the intent of founding a monastery the count’s family built a house for monks of the Theatine order, but it was never occupied as a monastery.

May

2020

Dry in a Rainstorm

It had rained all day, on and off, and was still raining hard late in the afternoon. It was the kind of day that could be called cloudy bright, perhaps, with enough daylight still for shooting without a flash.

We were on our way back from a field trip. Our work was done for the day.

I think we both noticed them about the same time: the domes of the Ukrainian church sparkling white in the distance.

“Let’s go to that church,” I said.

“You can’t take pictures in the rain,” my companion replied.

“Let’s go anyway,” I persisted.

The rain was still pounding on the car when we stopped outside the church a few minutes later.

“How are you going to take pictures in the rain?” I was asked as I collected the camera for a quick step outside and back in.

There was no need to reply, though. For suddenly there was no pounding anymore. The rained had stopped!

As I scrambled out I noticed the clouds, clustered like huge grapes overhead. Immediately, for me, the sky took precedence over the church. I had not seen these mammatus clouds before.

The ground sloped away from the church so I sloshed through the soggy grass to find a position from where I could include both clouds and church in my shot. But that was not possible while standing. I had to be looking almost straight up to get the pendulous clouds in the picture.

I could do that now because the rain had stopped.

I found a place and lay back, sliding around to compose the image. I got my pictures. Here is one of them.

When I got back in the car my clothes were sopping wet at the back, but absolutely dry in front. And so was my camera.

We fastened our seat belts. My companion settled down to drive. He turned the ignition key and the car started, and so did the rain, at the same instant. And it came down even harder than before.

It rained the rest of the day.

As I scrambled out I noticed the clouds, clustered like huge grapes overhead. Immediately, for me, the sky took precedence over the church. I had not seen these mammatus clouds before.

I could do that now because the rain had stopped.

I found a place and lay back, sliding around to compose the image. I got my pictures. Here is one of them.

When I got back in the car my clothes were sopping wet at the back, but absolutely dry in front. And so was my camera.

We fastened our seat belts. My companion settled down to drive. He turned the ignition key and the car started, and so did the rain, at the same instant. And it came down even harder than before.

It rained the rest of the day.

May

2020

Being Careful Around Women with Scarves

The tour guide had told us to be aware of the gypsy women selling scarves. The scarves (or whatever) were of flimsy material that billowed easily obstructing both vision and movement. Had he not warned us, at least one in our group (and that would have been me) could have suffered a serious loss.

The women worked in twos or threes. Their procedure was fast and simple. One would step in front waving a scarf in your face. While you fended her off the others would be rifling through your pockets. Once done they would disappear in the crowd. So even with immediate realisation of what had happened there would be little chance you would catch them.

We were in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, as were hundreds of others. And, as predicted, I soon had three women around me. The one in front kept waving a scarf in my face while the other two moved to either side.

I was loaded with camera bag over one shoulder and camera round my neck, safe enough. My wallet was in my pants pocket, and that’s where I put my hand. In the nick of time, though, for also in my pocket was a woman’s hand. I was able to hold on to it for just a moment before it was wrenched away. Without my wallet, though. And the hand, and the woman attached to it? They were gone. I didn’t even buy a scarf.

Most of the photographs I took that day included people. But I still managed to get some without them, though, by shooting over their heads, by using a telephoto lens.

It could have been a disastrous day.

May

2020

First Stop of Touring Exhibition

Exhibition at Gwen Fox Gallery, Selkirk

Would I be interested in showing my church photographs in their gallery next month, the caller wanted to know. Would I? Of course I would.

The telephone call came from the Selkirk Community Arts Council, housed in the former Post Office, a designated historical building with an interesting history.

The land was bought in 1905 for $50.00. But in 1906 the Board of Trade expressed concern the location was too far from Selkirk’s commercial centre. Notwithstanding, construction began in 1907. The completed building became the Post Office and customs house, with offices for the police and the Indian Agent. In later years the Fisheries Department occupied the second floor.

In 1957, when a new Post Office was built further south on Main Street, the building was bought by a local developer who converted it to a rooming house. In 1979 it was condemned as unfit for human habitation and destined for demolition. However, in 1984 a local group got about $450,000 from the three levels of government to return some of the building’s former glory. It was officially reopened in 1991 by the Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson, Minister of Culture, Heritage and Recreation.

But, as government funding decreased, and debts accrued, the Old Post Office was scheduled for a tax sale in September 1998. Its saviours this time were another group of citizens and the City of Selkirk.

One of the new tenants was the Gwen Fox Gallery.

This was the first venue outside Winnipeg for Testaments of Faith, Manitoba’s Pioneer Churches. The exhibition was hosted at 12 locations over the next four years, and intermittently at other locations since.

Of Wood and Stone, Manitoba's 19th Century Churches

Would Anyone Care What I Had for Breakfast?

“Kill it! Kill it! It’s a bee!”

Being grateful for an unknown artist’s gift

Canada 125. Celebration of the Nation

Searching for Churches. My First Partner – from Hungary

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 3: Finding Treetops Instead of Steeples

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 2

Searching for Churches for Over 35 Years. Part 1: Assimilation

Photographer’s Statement: Why I Do It

Faith in a New World

Guanajuato, Mexico. Iglesia de San Cayetano. 1765

Dry in a Rainstorm

Being Careful Around Women with Scarves

First Stop of Touring Exhibition

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