Facing our Facades

February 03, 2021

Facing our Facades

Though I intend to express ideas of home and memory, I am doing so by looking at the exteriors of buildings as opposed to the lived-in interiors. As such, I am working directly with facades. On a more formal level, what I hope to accomplish is to reinforce the beauty in architecture around me and propose ideas to how architecture functions aesthetically and conceptually in our lives. I aim to give meaning to everyday “givens” that might normally be looked over as superficial.

Why might these buildings be superficial?

Beyond the perspective that houses are a superficial way to display wealth in some cases, there is also the perspective of architecture as works of art, despite the building's function. The art of these buildings can become forgotten when they are also such a common backdrop to the daily commute.

Spending much of my time walking the streets of downtown St. Catharines, the area is chock full of Victorian and original architecture, some far over a hundred years old. I can, and I have, spent hours exploring St. Catharines and seeking out old buildings that make up much of the core area. These beautiful buildings lose meaning, however, because who can focus on nice buildings when much of the downtown area seems to be falling apart? Taking the time to smell the roses (or go house hunting) feels petty and yes, superficial, in comparison to many of the issues the people of St. Catharines are facing.

The cost of housing in the area is skyrocketing, even rivaling the expenses to live in Toronto. Homelessness is rampant, along with the Niagara Region's unchecked issues of addiction from opioids and street drugs. Much of these problems are acute in the downtown area. Resources are scarce, and money continues to get funneled into tourist spots (The Meridian Centre being a costly addition). The epidemic of mental illnesses go far beyond the resources that are available to treat them as well. The city and local government boasts its arts scene, but doesn't want the burden to actually run the Performing Arts Centre (it was handed over to private owners) or finance Rodman Hall to keep it the prominent professional gallery of our region.

Rodman Hall Arts Centre, an incredible force of architecture in itself.

https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/niagara-region/2019/04/03/brock-exploring-options-for-rodman-hall-but-gallery-not-for-sale.html

Material Girls: one of the major exhibitions shown at Rodman Hall featuring artists such as Canadian artist Meryl McMaster.

https://www.triphobo.com/places/st-catharines-canada/rodman-hall-art-centre

So how, if this is the case, can we even consider the beauty of our area?

I believe that we can because it is beautiful, that no issue can take away the beauty that exists within St. Catharines. The same people who are facing these issues of addiction, illness, and lack of funding are also the ones who have made the downtown area an arts hub. It is the people that have made and support the small businesses, who have created a safer and more liberal space for minorities in comparison to much of the region. It was the people who constructed the buildings I ended up being so infatuated with.

So why make this beauty superficial?

Much of this post turned into a rumination on the St. Catharines area, but since nearly all of the buildings I am working from come from this location I believe it to be important to keep this an area of focus. Additionally, the hurdles St. Catharines faces exist in almost every city where beauty also exists. To celebrate the architecture, to look beyond their facades as simply another building in an often struggling area is to celebrate the city and the communities within it. We can't avoid architecture, and it is a given in every location. But the buildings are also the faces of cities that are worth celebrating. Here are some of my favourite pictures I have taken on my little local excursions.