In the Pool of the Black Star
I am just today arrived back from the geographic center of north america. This spot at least in 1928 was determined to be in Manitoba, Canada. It is called the “pool of the black star” and is located in the floor immediately below the rotunda of the Manitoba Legislative buildings in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
I was interested to stand and observe its apparent Masonic temple configurations, feeling perhaps some strange connection to my long deceased grandfather who I now know was a mason from the grand lodge number one in Glasgow, Scotland. So early saturday morning my daughter, Tsuaay and I walked across the Assiniboine River and up through the northern doors that open up to the two horned bronzed beasts that guard the entrance to this curious architecture. As we stood at the foot of the three tiers of 19 steps that rose up towards the rotunda a cascade of glorious voices greeted us. The sense was almost other worldly. We rushed up the steps past the two bronzed bisons and right into a practice of the EastMan Youth Choir. A circle of sound flowed from fully engaged youthful slapping hands weaving bodies around an enthused and blissed choir master all standing above the black stone tile that is the pool of the black star.
Although temple symbolism and even formal music theory are far beyond my experience sound in this rotunda is celestial. The architects employed an impressive array of skills to create this space and in apparent celebration of some other theory they even opened the building on a day noted for some celestial alignment. In any event after the choir left Tsuaay and I lay down in the middle of the pool of the Black star and looking far up at the rotunda dome we together sang a Haida song reserved for the most significant events.
Then we drew pictures.
ps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Legislative_Building