Category Archives: Arts & the City

Arts & the City, Montréal Stories

Paul Giamatti was surprised to learn Montréalers speak French…

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Clearly I didn't take this picture, but my thanks goes out to whoever did.

Paul Giamatti was on the Daily Show last night promoting his new film, the Mordecai Richler novel Barney’s Version.

*** To all of my hardcore Québec-independence readers, quick note – Richler didn’t hate French-Canadians. He is not a racist. Lionel Groulx was. Jacques Parizeau seems to be. Just sayin’

Anyways – Mr. Giamatti apparently thought Montréal was ‘French’ in the same way New Orleans is, which is to say not much. In the interview he indicated that he couldn’t understand anyone, was flabbergasted that a French city existed in North America and loved it, though he also bitched about the weather (he’s becoming one of us!)

I’m waiting for the lunatic fringe to sink their teeth into Giamatti’s comment about ‘lumberjacks and theme parks.’ May take a while, I don’t think the RRQ or the MPQ watch the Daily Show.

Arts & the City, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks

Random monuments { no.2 } – Sailor’s Memorial

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Sailor's Memorial - work of the author, April 2009

At the easternmost edge of the Harbourfront stands this rather striking monument to the local sailors who gave their lives in two world wars. Below it lie two eight-inch guns, both trained on the base of the Jacques Cartier Bridge. Apparently, at certain times of the year – my guess business hours during the summer, you can climb to the lookout up top. Never met anyone who’s ever been inside though.

Arts & the City, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks

The Sail

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The IBM-Marathon Building at 1250 Boul. René-Lévesque is an excellent local example of architectural postmodernism. From the West, it gives the impression of three distinct rectangular masses, as if it were several buildings piled on top of each other, or moving through each other. Its shape is scaled to a more ‘human’ proportion as it gets closer to street level, and, from the Western perspective, the building is very much in line with the other commercial high-rises of the city (which would appear behind or to the side, such as the CIBC Tower or PVM). However, from Place-du-Canada, the Eastern perspective is quite different, where the several pavilions visible from the other side are now united by a large, curving mass, which reminds me of a sail. It’s large without appearing bulky, and seems to strive towards the sky without appearing grandiose. The contrast between its sea-green windows and polished gray metal give it a futuristic, somewhat serious feel.

Arts & the City, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Worth reconsidering

Expo daydreams & Montr̩al Magazine Рworth reconsidering

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I came across an interesting little bit of nostalgia a few days ago, in the form of an online copy of Montréal Magazine dating back to February of 1967. They couldn’t possibly have had any idea at the time of just how successful Expo 67 would ultimately prove, yet were nonetheless optimistic hopeful it would get the new Montréal on the map.

Going through the magazine and I couldn’t help but wonder why the city doesn’t pump out more propaganda praising the people and places that make up our city. What’s more, 43 years ago they had no problem issuing a fully bilingual monthly review. But I bet you people would say it couldn’t, or shouldn’t be done. It seems as if we hit a high water mark that year and have been retreating, in some senses, ever since. We’re still a kinda-global city which occasionally makes itself relevant, but we seem to have a hard time sustaining interest the way we used to. Perhaps a result of too much navel-gazing, too much existential angst.

I hope these photos – none of which are my work of course – at least convey an element of the excitement felt that fateful summer, as all too many people have told me the air was electric, and everyone was really happy to be a Montréaler. Who wouldn’t? I always ask, despite not knowing what the sensation is like in real time. I suppose all I do know is that I prefer what I see above as to what I see below:

Though to be fair, Calder’s Man is an awesome monument. I just wish we had more and they were more prominent within the cityscape.

Arts & the City, Montréal Landmarks

Public space transformed: Carré St-Louis

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 Saint Louis Square, Spring 2010

It’s amazing how things change. Forty years ago, this was where you came to purchase drugs and prostitutes. Fortunately, the gentrification of the surrounding neighbourhood, and in particular the stately value of the homes on Laval Avenue, has effected a major transformation on this beautiful urban retreat. Having spent a considerable part of last summer hanging out here after work, drinking with friends, watching the world go by, I find it exceptionally difficult to imagine this was once associated with dangerous hoods and gangland shootings. Certainly, its still got plenty of freaks and geeks waltzing in and out, bathing in the fountain, acting crazy etc, but such is the life of a beautiful urban square, which links the Prince Arthur pedestrian mall to Sherbrooke Métro station, the ITHQ and St-Denis Street. In a similar vein as Dorchester Square, this is one of those places you detour through because its simply so nice. I remember passing by the park in the middle of the day, but just after a freak rainstorm. The rain made everything glow, and the colours shone brighter than ever. People used their hands to wipe water of benches so they could enjoy their lunch, merrily leaping over puddles to guarantee a seat near the fountain in this little urban oasis.

Arts & the City, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Urban Redevelopment

Slated for renewal – Grain Silo No. 5

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Montréal's Grain Silo No.5

Montréal’s historic Pointe-du-Moulin and Grain Silo No. 5 has recently been purchased by the Canada Lands Corporation, and I for one am rejoicing, as this is a major step towards seeing a major renovation of several large properties in the Griffintown/Cité-du-Havre area. The CLC’s plan can be found here – this would be one of five sites destined for renovation. As iconic as this building is, the space is generally dead, and the South-Central re-development, which began in earnest ten-fifteen years ago in the Sault-aux-Recollets neighbourhood, needs to be propelled West to assist with the transformation of Griffintown, and later, Pointe-St-Charles. But I would hope that every effort is made to integrate Pointe-du-Moulin with the rest of the urban core, so public transit to this area will need to be ameliorated, if it is to become an extension of the city, as opposed to a segregated wasteland. Moreover, such a location seems ideal for a major tourist destination, and I know the idea of a multi-purpose museum (including ‘traveling’ exhibits from the city’s principle museums – I’m glad this didn’t go too far) at the site was batted about a few years ago. Spacing Montréal provides some analysis and some great shots of the complex, and Héritage Montréal has considered the site to be threatened for some time – I think it’s pretty clear the prominence of the site, and our fascination with the rugged beauty of it, the juxtaposition of an island of rusting industrial calm surrounded by the polished facade of the Old Port – a dark and quintessentially modern Montréal aesthetic. In sum, I’d hate to see condos here, but what’s for certain is that a massive industrial ruin is far from ideal given it may impede development around it. However, if it was a functioning building that retained the aesthetic of an industrial ruin, well, I could certainly live with that. For the time being, the CLC could do the city a favour and allow more access to the site. Public consultations next year won’t be worth much if the people don’t have a good idea about what’s feasible here, and what this space is like, up close and personal.