Secret Project – Marie Wilson
- January 17th, 2010
- Posted in Marie Wilson . Secret Project . photo essays
- Write comment
In the 70s, a homeless man named Chris used to roam the streets of Toronto. He had a long white beard and wore a lumber jacket and could often be seen holding onto fire hydrants around town while yelling: “Fire Ten! Fire Twenty! Fire Thirty!” and so on.
Most people thought Chris was crazy. But if you stopped and talked to him you would discover he was in possession of a very valuable secret. Fire hydrants, according to Chris, were storehouses of power, and anyone at anytime could fuel up by just following his procedure.
Try it sometime.
Marie Wilson was one of the first members of aamora. She is a writer, photographer, artist, actor, mother and muse. Originally from Vancouver, she lives in Toronto. This is Marie’s contribution to aamora’s “Secret Project” (more here). Enjoy more of her photography at her photosite here and check out her writing, art and photography, as well as some cool links, on her new website
You conveyed a beautiful, deep, parable with the just means – nothing needs to be added, nothing to taken away.
And hey, you might me seeing hugging one of those hydrants, haha
I am always intriqued with hydrants..this is such a terrific point of view….
The next time I am going to shout like Chris, undoubtedly.
Foc seixanta nou!!!!
Until now, I have only seen them as annoying indicators of places where I can not park. Now, I quietly wonder of their stories and special powers and I have a different understanding of just why we can not park in front of them – in honour and memory of Chris.
I think Chris’ other secret was knowing where to pee!;-)
I don’t think the hydrants here in Sexy Lexy have the same kind of magic that Chris discovered but I’ll give it a go. Thanks for the excellent images and wonderful story, Marie!
Thanks, all you wonderful photogs and ragamuffins. Aamora is a power centre unto itself: Fire Eleventy Two!!
Yes, an excellent addition to the secret project! I love Chris’ idea of a secret source of power and your entrancing protrayal of those storehouses!
Marie, you always come up with something wonderful. Yes, Chris was in possession of a very valuable secret, available only to those who stopped to find out how to use this source of energy. I love the whimisical animated quality you have bestowed upon these hydrants.
Fun-tast-ic piece….
I think that I vaguely recall Chris and his yelling in T.O….
Unfortunately, there are no fire hydrants in sight here in Barcelona to put Chris´theory to the test. Perhaps, it’s just to keep practitioners of such complex ideologies from yelling Fuego, 10 Fuego 20, Fuego 30, in the streets here…
I guess I´ll have to wait until I venture back to North America to put his ideas to the test.
Far out. Love the last one. Like, all of them are really cool, but the last one…ya know like, I don’t know about fire hydrants giving off power and all, but I’m pretty sure they spell R E L I E F ya know…Like, I remember the time I was at a friends house in LA and I’d eaten these really cool brownies and had too much to drink and…anyway there was this fire hydrant not far from his pad…and…anyway, your pics are so cool, rock on, dudette.
Something about the third image is very compelling. : )
What wonderful images Marie. I particularly like the snow-dusted delicacy of the mauve-capped hydrant. And your words, predictably, are mind opening
Wonderful!
Love the concept and the story about Chris. I think my dog Chelsea knows Chris’ secret.
I love it!!
Such fresh and original approach.
The prose is wonderful…… and who knows.
Image one for me is perfect.