
Last night we were at the CCA (Canadian Centre for Architecture) for the opening of their new exhibit, ABC : MTL. It was a special night because my husband, J. (below), was one of the artists selected to be part of the exhibition from a field of 250 proposals by architectural firms, videographers and filmmakers, planners, musicians, and individual artists. (I'm sorry for the poor quality of these images - there was very little light in the rooms.)

The CCA is a terrific museum, and it was a real honor for him to have a piece of work included. The curatorial staff has treated him very well in all their communications and interactions; the 10-foot photographic print he provided was beautifully mounted, hung, and lighted. A video interview is part of a documentary presentation that goes with the exhibition, and he'll be on a discussion panel later on.
(click image to read large version of curatorial statement about his work, in French and English)
J.'s photograph shows one of the deadliest intersections in the city, at St-Joseph and Iberville, and illustrates his focus on what happens when residential neighborhoods and industrial/commercial interests collide in an urban context. It's a problem shared by many cities, and particularly difficult to solve when interlayered, old infrastructures are involved.
Some of the other works were a lot more cerebral: in the entrance area
to the exhibition, below, the hanging work is a video that included a changing
pattern over Montreal somehow created from sampled radio frequencies.

The large photograph on the back wall is an artist's attempt to render what the sky over Montreal might have looked like in the early days of the earth's formation.

The CCA put on quite a party; there was a DJ and a band, and an open bar serving wine and beer in Shaughnessy House, the old mansion that was incorporated into the sleek new museum. The multi-level, modern extension is a beautifully designed structure of wood, chrome, and polished black granite with large exhibition and teaching spaces, offices, and a gorgeous architectural library.

We celebrated late, with a decadent dessert at Cacao 70: I actually don't think I've ever eaten a banana split before (remember, I thought I was allergic to bananas for 60 years!) and we did split this one, but...As I said to a wide-eyed man who glanced at our table when it was delivered, "un peu excessif?" He shook his head, laughed, and replied, "I'm not judging!"