Although we are nearing the end of July, I still have some shots to share that were taken in June. Going through the images I shot last month I realized I had quite a few pictures of public art from various places around town, so today’s post is mainly a collection of photographs of random sculptures.

The Canadian Centre for Architecture Sculpture Garden

The CCA sculpture garden is located on the Esplanade Ernest-Cormier (south side of boulevard René-Lévesque opposite the CCA).

The garden was designed by Montréal artist-architect Melvin Charney as part of the Québec government’s competition program for the integration of art and architecture, combining sculpture and public space on a site granted to the CCA by the City of Montréal in 1986.

Charney’s 10 allegorical columns that are situated on the esplanade beside the belvédère represent the history of architecture and of Montreal.

The light was a bit too bright to get the best shots (I’m thinking sun rise could be a great time to revisit), but I did get a few half-decent shots to give an idea of the garden.

CCA sculpture garden
ISO 100 – 16mm – f5.6 – 1/800 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Sculpture by Melvin Charney
ISO 100 – 20mm – f6.3 – 1/800 sec

CCA sculpture garden
ISO 100 – 70mm – f5.6 – 1/800 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

CCA sculpture garden
ISO 100 – 34mm – f5.6 – 1/1600 sec

CCA sculpture by Melvin Charney
ISO 100 – 80mm – f10 – 1/320 sec

CCA sculpture garden
ISO 100 – 35mm – f10 – 1/320 sec

L’arcade at the CCA sculpture garden
ISO 100 – 22mm – f6.3 – 1/250 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

For more images of the garden and the Canadian Centre for Architecture, check out an old post from my visit there in 2012 – The Canadian Centre for Architecture Aug 7 2012.

‘Catching Up’ (AKA Man reading a newspaper) by John Seward Johnson

The sculpture ‘Catching Up’ by the American artist John Seward Johnson is part of a sub-series of sculptures of people reading newspapers and books within his extensive series called ‘Man on the street’.

The sculpture was installed in 1985 outside the Globe building at 4141 Sherbrooke Street west. The day I passed by I was in a hurry and only grabbed a few quick shots from across the street. I need to revisit one day and get some closeup shots.

Catching Up sculpture
ISO 100 – 98mm – f6.3 – 1/100 sec

Catching Up by John Seward Johnson
ISO 100 – 240mm- f6.3 – 1/400 sec

Although I was across the street, I zoomed in on one of the images and could just make out some of the front page headlines. I did a quick search and found the sculpture features the front page from the Gazette Thursday July 4 1985 edition.

Front Page of The Gazette July 4 1985

Forces by Claude Théberge, Square Viger

Claude Théberge (1934-2008) was a Canadian artist, best known for his use of vivid colours and many of his paintings featuring umbrellas.

In addition to being a great painter, Théberge was also a sculpture and a number of his works can be found in and around Montreal (including in the metro stations; Verdun, Georges-Vanier and de l’Église).

One of his larger sculpture works is the fountain in Viger Square.

People either love or (more likely) hate Viger square. Certainly the square has been left to decay over the years since it was developed in the early 80’s following the construction of the Ville-Marie Expressway and is now frequented by homeless persons. For more info, I did a post on Viger Square and the Agora concrete installation by Charles Daudelin back in 2012.

Like the rest of Viger square, the Forces fountain has seen better days. I’m not even sure if the fountain still functions, it wasn’t when I passed by.

Forces sculpture by Claude Théberge
ISO 100 – 13mm – f7.1 – 1/2500 sec

As a side note: The building in the background of the above photograph is the Bibliothèque et Archives nationale du Québec (BAnQ). I’ve been meaning to revisit and photograph the amazing reading room there…perhaps I’ll get to it one day soon.

The next shot shows the proximity to, and the advancing construction of the new CHUM super hospital.

Forces sculpture at Square Viger
ISO 100 – 10mm – f7.1 – 1/640 sec

Inside the Forces sculpture
ISO 100 – 10mm – f7.1 – 1/640 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

I’m hopeful that with the new CHUM development, the current renovation and conversion of the château styled Place Viger and Berri Station building on the south side of the square, together with the planned covering of the Ville-Marie Expressway to the west will bring a much needed revitalization to this area. Perhaps then, the Forces fountain will become a popular landmark.

Personally, I would love to see the Agora structures be renovated and become a hub for local artisans with daytime and evening stalls…one can always dream.

BleuCycle by White and White

Created in 2012 by artists Céline and Jean-Guy White from Québec city. The sister and brother artists’ BleuCycle sculpture in front of 65 Sherbrooke street east shows a father standing beside his bicycle holding his daughters hand as she leans toward a pool of water.

Céline and Jean-Guy are keenly concerned with protecting the world’s fresh water supply and I really like the way they incorporate and depict watery reflections in many of their works.

BleuCycle by White and White
ISO 100 – 20mm – f5.6 – 1/400 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

I added a little ‘fog’ effect to the bottom of the next image to try and enhance the watery effect.

BleuCycle by White and White
ISO 100 – 20mm – f5.6 – 1/400 sec

I was only passing and wish now I had taken some close-up shots, or at least shoot with a shallow depth of field…another visit needed me thinks 😉

L’Air du Temps by Phillip Adams

I also had a shot of a mural by Phillip Adams that I shot in June and thought I might as well include it in this post while I’m in a public art mood.

Phillip Adams has produced a number of murals that adorn the walls around the Corporation d’habitation Jeanne-Mance complex between rue Ontario and boulevard de Maisonneuve east of rue Saint Dominique. I shared a couple of his fine murals (Au fil de l’eau and Winter Haze) in another post, but today I have another one – L’Air du Temps – which can be found at the corner of  Sanguinet and Émery streets.

L’Air du Temps by Phillip Adams
ISO 100 – 18mm – f8 – 1/400 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

All these images of just a small handful of the numerous works of public art in Montreal made me think I really need to get back to work on one of my other web projects – Montreal Public Art. But first I need to really catch up on my posting here which I plan to do before heading off on vacation next week.

Recently sold prints

A couple of recent sales to report:

First, 2 Montreal skyline views in digital format purchased by a buyer in Quebec:

Both of these can be found in the online store in the skyline gallery.

And a 12″x8″ print of the Aldred was purchased by another buyer in Quebec:

The Aldred

This print is available also in the online store within the Architecture and Urbanscape gallery.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Montreal in Pictures print for yourself, there are various sizes available (signed and numbered) in the online store. Alternatively if you are looking to buy a print framed and ready to hang, click here.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

Montréal in Pictures

Your virtual guide in and around Montréal

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