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John FitzGerald

John FitzGerald club

Posted: 05 Sep 2023

Taken: 24 Jul 2012

12 favorites     17 comments    79 visits

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this photo by John FitzGerald

University of Toronto Medical Sciences Building (1969, Govan, Kaminker, Langley, Keenleyside, Melick, Devonshire, & Wilson with Somerville, McMurrich, & Oxley). On the right is Habit Helix of Life by Ted Bieler (1971).
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m̌ ḫ, Andrew Trundlewagon, Fred Fouarge, Joe, Son of the Rock and 8 other people have particularly liked this photo

17 comments - The latest ones
 William Sutherland
William Sutherland club
Outstanding shot!

Admired in: www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to William Sutherland club
Thanks, William.
9 months ago.
 Jaap van 't Veen
Jaap van 't Veen club
Well composed city scene.
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen club
Thanks, Jaap.
9 months ago.
 tiabunna
tiabunna club
An interesting scene, looking almost like a giant drill bit on the right! :-)
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to tiabunna club
Thanks, George. I think this was the first of Bieler's helical sculptures. They've become more complicated over the years.

I have already posted a photo of one of his later sculptures, Triad:
Front Street West, Toronto
9 months ago.
 Ulrich John
Ulrich John club
Finely composed street view, John !
9 months ago.
 rdhinmn
rdhinmn club
And interesting textures in the outer walls (and maybe the inner walls, too?) Not at all the appearance, but a touch of Gaudi in the spirit. Or maybe not - I'm not an architectural critic.

So far as the picture goes, the motor bike is an interesting contrast to the regular bicycles all over the place.
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to rdhinmn club
Whether you're a critic or not. Bob, I like that idea. Thanks. It explains a lot about this building and its accompanying sculptures. I especially liked the motorbike for providing a big blue blob among all that vertical grey brutalism -- it's something to keep the eyes moving back and forth.
9 months ago.
 Keith Burton
Keith Burton club
A super street scene John...........and very well composed. I particularly like the way the line in the paving on the right leads directly to the chap on the bicycle..!!
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Keith Burton club
Thanks, Keith. It's the only leading line in the piece.
9 months ago.
 Joe, Son of the Rock
Joe, Son of the Rock club
A great urban landscape, John, with lots of interesting focal points. All the best, Joe
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Joe, Son of the Rock club
Thanks, Joe, and all the best to you.
9 months ago.
 Fred Fouarge
Fred Fouarge club
mooie straat scene john
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Fred Fouarge club
Thanks, Fred.
9 months ago.
 Andrew Trundlewagon
Andrew Trundlewagon club
A very interesting scene but am I alone in sensing an incongruity in a sculpture called "Habit of Life" in a place so devoid of signs of life (except perhaps the grass breaking growing between the cracks in the concrete proving that life will find a way).
9 months ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Andrew Trundlewagon club
I'm pretty sure you're not alone Andrew. In fact, the incongruity is even worse, since I mistakenly wrote "habit" for "helix". It represents DNA. I think this is probably another example of the people who approve buildings in Toronto being desperate to prove that Toronto is not a cultural backwater. So when city council approved New City Hall they decided to tear down Old City Hall -- one of the finest buildings in the city, and one of the most revered. Luckily an enraged citizenry saved it,

Of course the building went up in 1969 and the sculpture in 1971, a period in which everyone wanted to be NEW!! And DIFFERENT!! Kick out the jams!! And so on. This is certainly different from the rest of Queen's Park Circle.
9 months ago.

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