Whimsy

[vaneramos]

The destination of my walk with Danny djjo on Satuday afternoon was this bizarre house on Clinton Street in Toronto. The owner, a building contractor, started adding the decor while recovering from a neck injury. I took these photos on Danny's Nikon CoolPix.



















(Edited to correct street name.)

Comments

Clinton Street

[djjo.livejournal.com]

One street East of Christie. This house is just down the block from where Bill lived before he moved in with me. A truly fun and bizzare house!

It was even featured on the American TV show Wierd Houses.

And Mary is such a LONG way up the wall! Gave me a crick in the neck!

Hugs Van! Danny

Re: Clinton Street

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clearing up the street confusion. See you this aft. Smooches.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

that is some crazy stuff but me likes.
nice pics

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

This guy has some wild imagination.

Cheers.

[laura-borealis.livejournal.com]

That is amazing. I would love to do this to my house.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed!

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

i love it!~paul

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It's inspiringly cheesy. :-)

[progbear.livejournal.com]

That is so cool! I want to live in a house just like that!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

An incredible amount of work has gone into it, but what fun!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome, V.

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Does Danny's comment mean there's a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) on the upper part of one side of this house? That certainly adds an extra layer of eccentricity.

I wish I'd known about Weird Houses the TV show. US TV has slithered into a stinking dross-heap from which I flee in horror.

Would love to visit this when I make it up to TO!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You can see the shrine near the centre of the last picture. Here is a closer view.

There are more shrines out back

[djjo.livejournal.com]

You can see it from the front and side, but in the back of the house is a rather large shrine to Mary. He's got one of the standard large size Mary's back there. It's on the patio. Both he and his wife are very religious. I think he has made the shrines for her, but I may be mistaken.

Re: There are more shrines out back

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

How do you get to see the backyard?

The show is on LifeNetwork, called Life's Weird Homes

[djjo.livejournal.com]

Clicky Clicky.

The host is Arthur Black. Very yummy voice to go with his smile.

He also host a couple other shows - Weird Wheels 1, 2 and 3. I think these are on other chanels.

Lots of fun!

Re: The show is on LifeNetwork, called Life's Weird Homes

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Thanks! unfortunately I no longer have cable. I don't think in any event Boston is hip enough to carry that channel (even assuming it's available in the US).

That's a fascinating detail about the man's religious devotion. Makes one think of the house as an update of Chartres, or one of the other great mediaeval cathedrals.

The photos put me in mind of something... I think it was an entry Bill did last Summer about this man who has been adding stuff to his car for the past 20 years or so.

cheers, Shimmer

Re: The show is on LifeNetwork, called Life's Weird Homes

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Possibly it's the same person. On the weekend Danny or Bill mentioned that this man had also decorated a car or van for one of his children.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of Simon Rodia's Watts Towers in LA. I should go look for the slides that I took many years ago.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Fascinating structure, thanks for the link!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No. What happens there?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Frig *smacks head*

I'm so blond!

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

Next time I'm in town, I want to see this in person. I imagine it's even more awe/giggle inspiring "live."

Great pix!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No question, we need to spend more time in Toronto next time. Hugs.

[avad.livejournal.com]

wow. that's nuts! :) (and we love nuts)
B is fascinated by visionary environments...wonder if that's ever been in that magazine Raw Vision?. We had a subscription one year and ooohed and ahhed at madnesses like these.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and that mag sounds interesting. Hey, I already posted about this artist Andy Goldsworthy today, but just want to make sure you see the link....

http://cgee.hamline.edu/see/goldsworthy/see_an_andy.html

[avad.livejournal.com]

Andy Goldsworthy is one of the most awe-inspiring artists I know of. His whole method...it's just...*sigh* Zen.:) A few wonderful books out there on his work...Wood, Stone, Time, i'd love to own one some day.I look through them at Borders often and just sigh. Can you imagine holding icicles till they freeze together?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Hardly! What patience.

[bremo.livejournal.com]

You should see that house at christmas time! Oh, it makes music too.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I could see a lot of lights and stuff still on the house. I'll have to go back during the season.