C and I spent 4 hours at the VAG last night and it was marvelous. The Monet-Dali show was amazing, as I had hoped, even though Vancouverites really don't seem to get that impressionism is best viewed from more than 18 inches away and the fact that it was a bit of a mob scene. Still, it was amazing. Above are two of my favorites, but it's so hard to choose. They also had quite an array of Rodins on hand, and I've been a big fan ever since a show I saw at the Smithsonian oh so many years ago. His (I think it's called ) "The Fallen Angels," an amazing piece of work in marble, was absolutely captivating. We saw more wonderful art than I can name - some beautiful Monet, Cezanne, Dali - really too much for one human brain to wrap itself around. If I have a single complaint (crowds aside) it's just the Vag's tendency to prioritize breadth over depth, and the fact that some of the pieces were in rooms that were clearly too small for them - our poor, diminutive VAG.

We escaped the crowds for awhile upstairs in the Carr and G7 display, which is actually also fantastic (even though it's Canadian - oh how we don't support our own!). C had never seen it before, so that made it even more special. I think C decided he's especially fond of the work of Arthur Lisman - one great Canadian painter, to be sure. The VAG has, however, painted most of the walls upstairs green. Umm, hello??

I'm still enchanted, even though today must now be devoted entirely to marking and school work. At least my head is full of beautiful things.

With the beginning of Autumn (not official till the 21st, I know, but feel the air), I always begin seeing things in terms of qualities of light. It's what makes this my favorite time of year, actually - the way the sun does exactly what Leonard Cohen wanted it to and pours down like honey, thick and gold. You should almost be able to step out onto it. One of my favorite places to relish in golden fall sunbeams over the years has been the seawall just by Prospect Point. There's something about the way the light reflects off the sea and filters through the trees there that makes it one of the most beautiful moments possible, if you manage to capture one.

The sad thing is, and it only hit me this morning, that those specific moments are no more. Prospect Point was nearly leveled during the wind storms last year, and now I hear there is talk about just paving certain parts of it (more parking) since the foundational damage was so extensive. When it comes to beauty, I suppose everything, no matter how permanent it may seem - rocks or trees - fades away eventually. I shall have to seek my sunbeams elsewhere.

One last thing: speaking of the colour of light, at this moment I can't help thinking of the room my English 12 class occupies. The fluorescent lights are orange like streetlights. It should be illegal. I wonder if I can justify some indoor volleyball to speed the necessity for new lights...