art walk

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The idea behind my algorithmic walk was I would move two streets north, and one street east. It seemed simple enough. I plotted my path beforehand so there would be no chance I would screw this up.



I started at 8th and Columbia. Esther Short park was right across the street so I could see and hear children playing on the jungle gym. There were many parents enjoying the nice day, having conversations on benches with other parents.


I came to evergreen and it was time to take my first right turn. I stumbled over a few tiny shops including a coffee shop that was overshadowed by the local Starbucks. Though at around 6pm, the place was closed. I began smelling a floral scent which was coming from the flower shop next door.



Next door to the flower shop was Scott Barbour's photography studio filled with his works.



Free parking is difficult to find in downtown Vancouver and I remember having to park my car a long way away from my starting point. Parking tickets are a pain as well.

I turned left and began heading north again. At this point I remember thinking about fall and how the leaves were changing.

Off in the distance of this photo, I thought to myself, what an interesting piece of architecture. It turned out to be part of a bank, one that was still open.


I looked at the street sign, and realized that my walk may have been transposed east one block. I decided to make my personal error a part of my art walk.

..Back to the architecture.

I thought about this interesting indent in the side of the bank... Why was it there? It doesn't seem functional. Is it merely for visual variety?

As i looked to my left, I saw a towering church.

It was larger than any other building around by two times over. Architectural purpose, compensation?

I moved forward one more block.


I found this humble flower shop.

The neon sign was retro but somehow cozy in the midst of the banks and churches. The circular window added to this aesthetic.

At this sign I turned right again.

The landscape of Downtown Vancouver seemed to have changed dramatically within this block. there was a larger amount of green color coming from the yards of what seemed to be nice houses, but were really places for psychiatrists and lawyers to set up practice.



I turned left again and headed north a block and stopped to look at this fountain. Was it corporate art? I saw no large businesses set up anywhere.


On top of being a brisk day, with the large amount of diversely colored leaves that collected in this fountain, I began to feel like fall was here. I noticed the banzai tree attached to the fountain.

I looked around and found something etched in stone.

It seems that this is a fountain that has to do with forestry. Why is it here? Was there an award granted to the fountain, or was the fountain the award for a forestry piece?

At this point, I walked north a few more blocks and saw the run down Kiggins Theatre in the background. What my camera saw was the obvious signs of fall.



We crossed over Mill Plain on Main. I noticed the steam/smoke coming from the massage parlor. I questioned this as well, but came up with no answers.

I thought about my photography and what I like to take photos of. As i passed the 15th Street Pub and saw a nice reflection and it brought me back to the old days when I bought my first Cannon SLR. I took this one for old time sake.



At one of the lecture halls on Main, Halloween decor was already in place. I am reminded to buy those pumpkin candy corns that I love so very much that are only available in the month of October.




I turned right here.

Though I wasn't on a photo shoot, I thought I would take one that might have some artistic merit.

Something about the size of this guy and the lighting coming through the trees made me uneasy.

Then... I couldn't help but take photos for myself.

I had been brought back to my early days of college the first time around when the weather was brisk, and the leaves were falling.


I found myself in the uptown village district and I thought I had ended my walk... Then I ran into my friend Crystal who, coincidentally had her new digital SLR with her!

I disbanded the walk and we had dinner at hulaboys. I do not recall the route we took but the walk was disbanded for 3 hours and we ended up near the river to take night photos. The mood was cold and quiet. Only the sounds of traffic from the I5 bridge would warm my freezing hands that had trouble taking pictures.

We were interested in the graffiti murals and wondered how they would turn out in a night photography setting.



In conclusion, the moon was high and the lights shone brilliantly off the water. A strong finish to a random adventure.