Video - Royal Canadian Navy Monument – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
Transcript of Royal Canadian Navy Monument – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
[Canadian Heritage signature]
Narrator: "This capsule is presented by Canadian Heritage."
[Components of the monument, a marble wall with a gold sphere on top]
Narrator: "Unveiled in 2012, the Royal Canadian Navy Monument is one of the most modern commemorations in Canada's Capital Region."
[The monument and the land jutting out into the river]
Narrator: "The site, known as Richmond Landing, is integral to the monument. The land juts out into the Ottawa River in a triangle, mimicking the bow of a ship."
[Close-up of the wall and the gold sphere]
Narrator: "The focal point of the monument is a large, white marble wall set into a granite base with multiple levels, calling to mind a ship's sail and a wavy sea."
[Illustration of the site illuminated at night]
Narrator: "At night, when lit from below, the wall resembles the prow of a ship."
[On one side of the wall we can read the Navy motto “Ready Aye Ready”, and on the other side the honours from significant battles in Canada's naval history]
Narrator: "Carved into the west side is the Navy motto “Ready Aye Ready”, and on the east side, honours from significant battles in Canada's naval history. As you read the honours, notice how you're standing on some of the site's only level ground, as if you were on the deck of a ship."
[Close-up of several features cut into the base of the monument]
Narrator: "Several features cut into the base evoke other aspects of the Canadian Navy. The two bronze strips, for instance, run north-south and east-west—the cardinal axes essential to navigation."
[The common nautical symbol of an anchor wrapped in rope]
Narrator: "The common nautical symbol of an anchor wrapped in rope—known as a fouled anchor —points toward both the water and Parliament Hill."
[A ship’s mast with a gold sphere on top, the camera moves towards the bottom of the mast showing in the background, the wall and a second gold sphere]
Narrator: "Off to one side stands a ship's mast with a gold sphere. The two gold spheres on the site provide links to the sun, moon and stars —navigational aids—and suggest the global reach of the Royal Canadian Navy."
[Overall view of the site with oaks trees in the foreground and a flag attached to the mast]
Narrator: "Even the double arc of oak trees suggests “the Heart of Oak”, the Navy's official march."
[Close-up of Al McWilliams]
Narrator: "Listen to the clip by the artist, Al McWilliams to find out more about the creation of this monument."
[Canada Wordmark]