Murals on "The Main"

Last weekend, a stretch of St. Laurent closed to vehicles for the Festival of Murals, one of Montréal's newer summer events. This is the second year of a festival whose purpose is "to celebrate creativity and democratize urban art".

Theatre perfomances, live music and a street-fair atmosphere (mercifully free of big brand hype) drew young families, students and tourists, who viewed the multi-story murals and installations, many still in progress on Sunday, thanks to rain earlier. The murals will remain in place over the next year.

An Escher-like effect by RR&DB:



The murals were of the fantastic, visionary and surreal school; below, a fantasy figure by Inti of Chile holds a beaker in a clawed hand:



A mural by Alex Scaner of Canada:



Visitors picked up chalk to make their own marks:


While local restaurants dished up paella, vegan burritos and sausages, cheek by jowl:



People watching in the sunshine! An eye-catching ensemble and hairstyle on an older woman:


And a rockabilly girl and guy in front of a vintage store: 



Nice installation, boys—but is it art?


A girl, balletic in her tee and white kitchen wear, with the pre-existing graffiti of a lane:


At home, someone has grafitti'd a poem directly across from our balcony:
(I will be there where you will not be/we will be in the space between us/we will be miserable.)


We, however, felt far from miserable, after a dinner of the astonishingly delicious arepas at Bocadillo, the Venezuelan bakery restaurant.


And for a heartening story of the positive outcomes of public art, see more about MU (Mural Urbain)'s work with Montréal neighbourhoods in this Toronto Star article.




Comments

LauraH said…
Looks like the start of a wonderful summer in Montreal. I hope to visit later, perhaps August, really looking forward to it.
Madame Là-bas said…
What a good idea to use the artistic talent of the community and of elsewhere to decorate the inner city. I haven't visited Montréal in many years (almost forty) and should put it on my to-see list for the next few years.
Susan B said…
What a wonderful community you have there! I always love seeing your street photos.
I was working on a rush job during the weekend and didn't get down there, but I'll cycle or walk down soon to look at the murals. There was a similar cultural/commercial event on avenue du Mont-Royal a couple of weeks ago, featuring poetry and a tribute to a local parliamentarian who was also a poet and journalist.

Yes, the weather has finally turned nice and there are fresh local fruits and vegetables, and people in summery clothes.
You live in such a vibrant and eclectic community....I love seeing your street style images.
Cornelia said…
Thanks for sharing your street festival. I thought yet again, that there is quite a European flair to Montreal.
LPC said…
Oh, summer in the city! And summer in the city that loves art, even better.
Anonymous said…
I've only been to Montreal once, but I clearly remember how vibrant and proactive the city was. During my short visit, I saw an International Fireworks display and attended the 350 year anniversary parade. My mother's ancestors were in the group of the first 1000 people to live in "New France" so I have a very strong feeling of pride about Canada and its history.
Duchesse said…
LauraH: Wonderful! Hope you get here.

Mme and pseu: The Star article to which I linked says the inspiration for the mural project came from Philadelphia- art as community-building.

lagatta: They'll be around, but the festival made it especially fun to see.

hostess: Different planet from your city and- in the same country.

Cornelia: Generally regarded as the most European city in North America. (Quebec City is more unilingual French-speaking but much smaller.)

LPC: There are more artists per apita here than in any other city in our country, so there is always a great deal to see, in both visual and performing arts.

fox: Perhaps time for a reunion with your ancestral roots?
Duchesse said…
LauraH: Wonderful! Hope you get here.

Mme and pseu: The Star article to which I linked says the inspiration for the mural project came from Philadelphia- art as community-building.

lagatta: They'll be around, but the festival made it especially fun to see.

hostess: Different planet from your city and- in the same country.

Cornelia: Generally regarded as the most European city in North America. (Quebec City is more unilingual French-speaking but much smaller.)

LPC: There are more artists per apita here than in any other city in our country, so there is always a great deal to see, in both visual and performing arts.

fox: Perhaps time for a reunion with your ancestral roots?
Duchesse said…
LauraH: Wonderful! Hope you get here.

Mme and pseu: The Star article to which I linked says the inspiration for the mural project came from Philadelphia- art as community-building.

lagatta: They'll be around, but the festival made it especially fun to see.

hostess: Different planet from your city and- in the same country.

Cornelia: Generally regarded as the most European city in North America. (Quebec City is more unilingual French-speaking but much smaller.)

LPC: There are more artists per apita here than in any other city in our country, so there is always a great deal to see, in both visual and performing arts.

fox: Perhaps time for a reunion with your ancestral roots?
materfamilias said…
Marvellous! Thanks for sharing .. .your eye is so sharp, I can so easily imagine the mood, the buzz.. . Hard to beat Montreal in the summer.
Mardel said…
What a vibrant post, filled with life, the sense of summer, art. What a fascinating place to live.
Duchesse, actually I was working on another festival...
diverchic said…
Great photos! You should create a book.
Eleanorjane said…
That looks really cool. I would love to come and visit. Bristol (where I live) is a famous centre for street art - Banksy is from Bristol and we still have quite a few of his works plus lots of others. There is an annual festival too, but it's more youth orientated with lots of bands till late.

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