Sunday Evening Blather

I would like to write that a bunch of exciting things happened in my whirlwind week without blogging, but the sad truth is that it was just work. There was my regular job as book bitch chez board office, and then my extracurricular activity of feeding the neighbour's cats and taking care of the house. One of the cats, Jade, is obese and toothless. She's my favorite, since we both have a thing for Bill Kurtis, and she'll cuddle up on the couch with me whenever American Justice is on. The other cat, Higgins, hates me. He has to be kept indoors when I'm cat-sitting, and blames me for this state. So, he pretty much just sits in front of the door, angrily meowing and plotting my death. That's right, my week was full of death threats from cats, and books.

Saturday was dull. The monthly summer vacation verbal throw down with the parents occurred like clockwork. I finished The Contract With God Trilogy, and thought about cleaning my room. One skein of Manos was wound into a ball, and I decided that was enough cleaning as I kicked a pile of books and magazines out of my way to the bed and the abandoned book on Canadian History I had checked out of the library.

By Sunday, I decided I had enough of the humdrum, and went to see the new Crystal building at the Royal Ontario Museum. I went with my design-keen buddy Ginger, so I could have a professional opinion, when mine are more of the "it's purdy" strain. The project has been somewhat controversial since Liebeskind won the design competition, with many people worrying that it wouldn't be practical, or wouldn't work with the charming old buildings of the ROM. The first projections I saw were a little shocking- it kind of looked like the ROM was being by integrated by the alien Crystlaaar, from Delta X-9. But I remembered all the times when a reviled sketch becomes a beloved icon on the skyline, and decided to shut up until I saw the thing in person. Well, I did. And I can report that I like it... initially. The interplay between the old building and the new is well-done, and the union between the two is much more harmonious than it is in pictures. Some parts, like cheap-looking plywood boards and noisy metal grates, looked worn or unfinished, but maybe there's still some work to be done. The silhouette on street level is stunning. However, I have a few reservations. I'm worried that the building will overwhelm the contents of the museum, since it's so distinctive- but with only one real exhibit installed it's hard to call right now. I'd also like to know how easy it is to work around the space (as the tour guide said, there are no right angles), when displaying collections, especially as accumulation inevitably occurs. And finally, I want to wait and see how the building will weather. I know they've probably spent millions testing it, and coming up with solutions for making a building that's 25% glass survive cranky Toronto winters, but the real proof comes in the middle of January ten years from now. Otherwise, shine on, you crazy crystal.