Still another week in Montreal. . .

Walking to the gym...

Rina, a book club member, CSUMB colleague and friend, wanted to know if John ever leaves his desk. Well, here are a few photos to prove that he at least gets up to go to the gym.

The gym entrance...

"Yes, I am away from my desk!"

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I am keeping busy with every day stuff and trying to print for a MPC Printmakers' show.  I'm finding, I need paper and a place to print, so I take advantage of my meeting with Wing Chan whom I met last week with Evelyn at Atelier Circulaire.

So, I take the bus to meet Wing at Papier Japonais.



Then on to Atelier Circulaire. 

Building that houses Circulaire

Wing has to work so I poke around to see if I can print there…

Presses and work space

Wing at work, selling paper and supplies

Now that I know I can use a press at Circulaire,

I am motivated to plan out a finished piece with my small blockprints into a larger piece. . .

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The National Library

Finally, I am able to make a successful trip to the National Library -  “Biblioteque et Archives Nationales” - for a card and am able to check out a couple of books.

A book for Quebec and one for #1 Ladies Book Club

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After French class on Saturday, we go to Marché Jean Talon for produce and ???

Marche Jean Talon - très bon

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Sunday, we sit at home because of the residual effects of Hurricane Irene.

Glad to be inside watching the windy rain

There’s no food in our fridge but eggs and bread – what to do for dinner.?

I brave the weather for chicken and zucchini.

"Yikes, it's wet!"

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Next week...?

 

Week 12: Evelyn shows me her Montreal...

It’s  Wednesday - a beautiful day to be out – sunny and hot, but not too humid. Evelyn Klein, good friend and one of my art teachers, is visiting her daughter and friends in Montreal.  I meet Evelyn on the corner of S.t Laurent and St. Paul at La Guilde Graphique in Vieux Port.

Evelyn at her old work station

La Guilde Graphique is the studio where Evelyn worked with some of the best printmakers in Montreal (she being included as one of the best, of course).  We went upstairs to the studio where I’m shown Evelyn’s workspace and the presses that were bought from France. 

The press from France - the French Press

Since she was brave enough to drive a car, we go to St. Laurent where Evelyn relives her work days at a studio (that isn’t there anymore) on St. Laurent. 



 

The Famous Swartz's - line is too long for us
We go somewhere else...

Meat markets, sandwich shops, cheese shops and cafes are favorite places to be seen. 

Lots has changed, but where we finally eat is exactly as it was 10 years ago – smoked meat sandwiches are delicious.

"MMM, tastes just like I remembered..."

From there we go to Atelier Circulaire, another studio where Evelyn did a lot of work. 

Wah Wing Chan
(Facebook profile pic...)

Wing Chan is there to show us around before he has to help sell paper that the studio sells to the “public”. I am looking for paper, so I will go back there next Wed. when the “store” is open again.  

Wing knows who I am because he’s seen me on Facebook from Robynn’s page.  Small world.  He is also a good friend of Louise and Ron’s.

Ian's "Library"

The rest of the week is as always. For John, reading, writing and working out; For me, finding new books to read (I’m finding Ian’s library is a good resource for Canadian authors) and trying out another print technique I can do in the kitchen. 



Obazawa Horsetail
(trace monotype)

Walks to the grocery store and up to Mount Royal for the bank and produce and the butcher (Maison Roti).  We try once again to get a library card and are told to bring a receipt with our name and the address where we are living (not a personal letter envelope.) I’m hoping my Amazon receipt will work when I try again.

We have a new teacher for the last 3 weeks of French class.  Proffeseur Ben and family went to Algeria to be with his mother for Ramadan.  Alexander is our new teacher, a linguistics student.  A whole new approach to learning French, but still very fun.

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Next week: Library card and paper buying...

Week 11: A Trip to the Countryside...

The Laurentians

On the second day of our arrival in Montreal, we attended an opening reception for Louise Bloom’s Livre Ouvert.  At that time, Louise invited us to her home in the country.  Between us getting settled and her show being extended, we were able to get it together to make the trip after two and a half months of emails and phone calls.

The drive to Morin Heights is through the city, through Laval (where we see the Cavalia tents) and on to the road toward St. Sauveur and Morin Heights.

Louise and Ron’s home is “up” and has these beautiful views.

After some refreshment, our hosts take us for a walk through the woods where, during the winter, the trails are used for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  At one point, we come out of the forest into a vast meadow…

and then back into the woods to end our walk at a waterfall.

More water and woods…

Really beautiful. What an unexpected treat.

After the walk, Ron fires up the fireplace outside and barbeques chicken with his secret sauce.  Over drinks and conversation, dinner is readied and we eat…

How great it is to make new friends in this beautiful countryside of Quebec.



Since I have talked so much about our fabulous French Class, this week I’ve included some shots of this week’s class.





Saturday morning French with Proffeseur Ben



We were asked to read a children’s book and our professeur animatedly interpretes and repeates what we've read with the correct pronounciation.

How do you say...???

Amol reads,
Proffeseur interprets

Min-Young and John



Ben tells us to practice and listen

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Next week: Evelyn comes to Montreal – hope to see her and go to the Graphic Gallery.