Thanks to yesterday's weather (snowy, low visibility, greasy roads, rental car with all-seasons), instead of visiting Almonte for a Lesbian Hallmark Christmas movie adventure, we decided to switch weekend plans with next weekend's and visit the National Gallery.

The main reason was so that we (well, I mostly) could see an exhibit called Camera and the City, which featured dozens of photographs made of, made in, and made around cities. As you might imagine, I was very excited to see it!

The exhibit was divided into three main parts: (a) city as movement and theatre; (b) city as idea; and (c) city as community.

The City as Movement shows how artists visualize the city as a dynamic site, open and vulnerable to numerous influences from within and without. The City as Idea explores conceptual approaches to photographing the built environment, examining how people and environments are shaped by corporate interests and consumer culture. Often resulting in experimental material processes, these photographs shift our understanding of city imagery. The City as Community highlights the need for human connection, capturing gatherings of families and diverse communities, along with back streets and alleys and their less familiar narratives.

There was a definite and well-realized flow between the three parts, and there were just so many photos from photographers that I was familiar with and those whose work was new to me.

As we made our way through the exhibit, I found myself getting mossy, like inspired. While I don't see myself as a photographer in any real way, I spend so much time making photos and trying to share the feel of movement in the city happen to be in with others.

Near the end of the exhibit, in the "City as Community" section, already swimming with inspiration, one of the gallery's staff members approached Kathleen and I and asked whether we would be staying for the meet-and-greet / question-and-answer with two of the photographers who had work exhibited.

Of course, we were glad to!

(And somehow, we managed to walk past several signs informing patrons of the event that were scatted through the museum. Dans la lune, Charlotte!)

I won't recount the whole session, but we were both riveted, listening on with interest as June Clark and Clara Gutsche recounted details of their past, their careers, preferred processes (film!), and visions. Throughout, Kathleen shot me knowing looks as so many of the topics were things we've talked about at home, usually with the same conclusions too!

Once the event was finished, June and Clara said that they were going to stick around for a while longer and if anybody would like to remain to ask more question or chat a little that they would be happy too. Since I'm really not very good at this sort of thing (I get intimidated and babbly easily enough), we decided to continue with our day.

(While at the Gallery, we also took time to visit an exhibit called Winter Count: Embracing the Cold, which was a collection of all manner of winter-themed art, most commonly paintings. It was a lovely exhibit too!)

By then, it was after noon and we were getting hungry. Part of dealing with the slight disappointment of switching our Almonte trip (though admittedly, I was a bit in the clouds from the session) was a nice meal at Khao Thai on Murray Street nearby. Noodles really are the solution to everything!

Tummies full, we then proceeded to Paper Papier so that Kathleen could look for a new planner (she's a paper gal) and perhaps, if the right one were there, some lavender shimmery ink. The first was a success, but the second? There is a specific ink in Korea that was won her heart.

Last year, Kathleen and I began what we intend to be a new Christmas tradition for ourselves. We both decided that buying presents for one another during the season was just too much and helped make all less pleasant. Since we're not averse to treats, we also found the ideas were hard to come by!

What really matters is that our quiet little holiday season for the two of us is that we get to spend time together. It was that little nugget that inspired our little tradition.

Beginning last year, every Christmas morning, we would open up and build a new Lego set! Last year's set was huge (by our standards), but as a suitably queer-coded downtown street scene, it gave us inspiration for this year's choice: a streetcar! How else will our little Kathleen and Charlotte minifigures, who can't afford to live in that area, visit our favourite little coffee shop, record store, or plant shop?

As of December 25, just before we have breakfast, it will be on a cute little streetcar!

December 14, 2025