An Angel's View - Old Port of Montreal

"Our Lady of the Harbour" was made famous by Montreal poet-singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in his hit song... Suzanne.

Following photos were taken from the belvedere.

You are viewing the harbor from left to right.

In the background is the Jacques Cartier Bridge, connection between the Island of Montreal and the South Shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

On the right side is the Clock Tower and Basin, location of The Montreal Yacht Club.

The large sphere in the far distance was the former American Pavilion from Expo '67 - World's Fair (1967). Currently, it is home to "The Biosphere" which is an interpretative museum about the Saint Lawrence River.

On the right side of this photo is a jagged structure tucked away in the midst of the lush green growth of the Jean Drapeau Park. It is the gigantic sculpture titled "Man" by Alexander Calder. It was commissioned by The International Nickel Company of Canada Limited for the Expo 67 event and was given to the citizens of Montreal for the 325th birthday of the city.

Under the big top! Quebec's own "Le Cirque du Soleil" summer venue is at the Quai Jacques Cartier. The 2011 summer run of "Totem" with the collaboration of Robert Lepage is from June 15 to July 31, 2011.

The building with the silver dome is the Bonsecours Market. Home to the Québec Crafts Council, this building houses 15 boutiques featuring top-quality “Made in Québec” creations: crafts, fashions, accessories and jewellery, design items, reproduction Quebec furniture and more.


Links of Interest: Leonard Cohen's Suzanne - Our Lady of the Harbour

Little Hercules

This sculpture is located at the Tupper Street entrance of the Montreal Children's Hospital. It was sculpted and donated by Dr. Harry Rosen, Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill University, to the children, parents and staff of this institution. Engraved on the plaque are these inspiring words ..... "I will be strong".

Square Victoria - Sculptures by Ju Ming

Square Victoria Agora Fountain

"Taichi Shadow Boxing" by Ju Ming

"Taichi Single Whip" by Ju Ming

From Guimard's graceful Metro entrance portico, a line of small pulsating jets of water lead the way northwards to the other end of Square Victoria. This spot is anchored by a pair of forbidding figures in bronze executed by Ju Ming of Taiwan. These massive TaiChi practitioners are permanently engaged in movements from the ancient art. The larger piece is titled "TaiChi Single Whip" and the smaller one is "TaiChi Shadow Boxing". These sculptures are part of a series by this artist who has works installed in major public spaces in Asia, Europe and North America. Montreal was fortunate enough to acquire these major works and they have been displayed here since 2006.

Hector Guimard - Montreal Metro Square Victoria

Square Victoria Metro Station / Saint Antoine Entrance
Restored and Re-inaugurated in September 2003

A Touch of Gay Paree

This is an authentic Art Nouveau Parisian metro entrance portico from the Paris Métro System. It was given to Montreal in 1967 by the French to commemorate the collaboration of Canadian and French engineers in building our metro system. This cast-iron entrance portico is truly a gem and an important example of the Art Nouveau style. We're very proud to have this because it is also the only authentic Hector Guimard entrance in use on a metro station, anywhere in the world outside Paris. So, whenever you're in town, be sure to check it out! One more reason to visit Montreal? I hope so.

Place Jean Paul Riopelle: La Joute Fountain

Stage 1: Fountain is engaged.

Stage 2: Outer ring of shooting mist.

Finale: A ring of fire.

Cost: Free of charge
Duration: Approx. 30 minutes
Showtime: Starts on the half hour, every hour, 7-11 p.m.

Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle: La Joute Fountain

Though technically lying outside the limits of the historic district, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle is just a short walk north of Old Montreal and is well worth the trip. The square is home to a public art work, "La Joute", completed in 1969 by the Québec artist Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923–2002). It is a sculpted fountain, and in the summer, every hour on the hour from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. it comes alive with water jets, mist and flame. For the reveal, please stay tuned...

MMFA Sculpture Garden: Antony Gormley

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts's sculpture garden, which dates back to 2002, has one of the city's largest collection of public art. Over twenty works are highlighted in this outdoor garden, accessible to the public on Du Musée Avenue and Sherbrooke Streets. This piece is titled "Building VI". Every time I pass by, it reminds me of the line "Beam me up, Scotty" from Star Trek!

Artist: Antony Gormley (Born in 1950)
Artwork titled ‘Building VI’ (2003)
Stainless steel blocks
Located outside the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on Avenue du Musee, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Canadian Artist - Joe Fafard's Claudia

Hold the calls. Claudia is on her lunch break!

This serene cow makes her home in the sculpture garden of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on Sherbrooke Street. Her creator is Joe Fafard whose art is heavily influenced by his Saskatchewan surroundings, and includes life-size bronzes of cows, horses and pigs.

Montreal's Japanese Garden

The serene Japanese Garden in Montreal stretches over 2.5 hectares and incorporates the traditional elements of stone, water and plants.  Designed by Ken Nakajima and opened in 1989, it is a typical stroll garden, inviting visitors to embark on a journey of contemplation, past stones set carefully to suggest mountains and valleys; around ponds and along streams that reflect the sky and clouds overhead; over arched or zigzag bridges; and through simple gardens featuring Japanese tree peonies, maples, irises and other plants. (Source)

Montreal Moose Sculpture on Sherbrooke Street

Montreal is promoting its museum district with a fun campaign called Project Orign’Art. This is a showcase of colorful two dimensional moose sculptures, placed all along Sherbrooke Street, with quotes from famous artists in French on one side and English on the other. I think this is a great concept: they're eye-catching and cheerful, fun to look at and shows how art can be a part of everyday life.

Jim Dine: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

"3 hearts on a rock", sculpture by artist Jim Dine.

This eye-catching piece is in the Max & Iris Stern Sculpture Garden, ... an outdoor garden that is ! With this project being funded by the Stern estate, the museum has been mandated to make art more accessible to everyone and to promote collaboration between the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Concordia University and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Location of this artwork:
Sherbrooke Street/ Ave. du Musee

Warrior Emperor and China Terracotta Army/Forever on Guard

Exhibition of the world renown Chinese terracotta army that was discovered in Xi'an, China in 1974 is currently at the Montreal Museum Of Fine Arts. I'm so happy to hear that it is a success and has been a big draw for tourists this Spring. If you are at all a bit curious to see some of the artifacts including some statues from the First Emperor's mausoleum, be sure to come before the show's closing- June 26, 2011. To give you an insight as to what you can expect to see, you can watch the 3 short videos that I have include here. Hope you enjoy !

Veritas: Westmount Selwyn House Sculpture By Santini

During lunchtime, I popped into Westmount City Hall to pick up some information leaflets. On my way out, I noticed this 6 feet by 13 feet sculpture on the front lawn of Selwyn House... a private boys' school catering to Montreal's young and privileged. (The school is located right behind City Hall.) These very enthusiastic students, I suppose, had just finished their lunch and were so bored that they jumped right in front of the sculpture and wanted to help me out. Several poses later, this is my favorite. Thumbs up guys.

St. Henri Park: Jacques Cartier Monument

A tranquil little Montreal neighborhood park: the St. Henri Park has a very elaborate Victorian style fountain and a statute of Jacques Cartier perched at the top. The original sculpture was done by Joseph-Arthur Vincent but, in the 1990s, the Cartier statue was replaced with a copy after having crumbled due to prolonged exposure to the elements. Currently, the restored Vincent sculpture is sited in the Place Saint-Henri Metro Station and placed in a light shaft over the Côte Vertu platform. If you are in the area, check it out !

Quebec Artist: Granche Wows Again

This ensemble of aluminium free-standing architectural sculptures, titled " Comme si le temps... de la rue " is the work of Pierre Granche. The installation is sited under a glass skylight in the interior of the Place des Arts Complex ( Place-des-Arts Metro ). If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and have a look. It's a must !

CCA Garden: Urban Public Space

The Canadian Centre for Architecture Garden is not your average garden with borders full of flowering plants and meandering walking paths. Nope ! The design concept is the integration of art and architecture, combining sculpture and public space. Think: a vast urban space with conceptual sculptures, concrete pillar structures, a gravel central meeting point and a lookout. Combine that with a small apple orchard, the numerous rugosa rose bushes and an impressive green lawn. The CCA sculpture garden was designed by Montreal artist/architect Melvin Charney.
1920 Baile Street Montreal, Quebec