Vernissage at the CCA

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!"

Comments

[Jan]

Wow. What a great reason for celebrating.

[Marja-Leena]

Wonderful photos and writeup, Beth. We wish we could have been there, especially to see his work closer - it looks great, and his statement is very interesting! Please give Jonathan our congratulations again.

[Beth]

Thanks, Jan!

Thanks, Marja-Leena, I'll tell him! (The statement was actually written by the curatorial staff; J. never writes in art-speak!)

[Laura]

Congratulations to your husband! What a delicious and exciting evening!

[Martha Nelson]

Hey Beth. Thanks for sharing the photos. What a great honor for Jonathan. I read the official write up several times but would love to hear Jonathan's description instead. I'd love to know more about his techniques in creating such a large print. What is he using for a camera these days? What other projects is he working on? How's the book coming? Give him my best and congratulations!

[Natalie]

Bravo Jonathan! The photo looks terrific and the museum curators should be proud to have an example of his work on their walls. I'm so glad he's in this show and trust there'll be many more. Thanks for this excellent glimpse, Beth and I hope you're both still celebrating. That banana split is the biggest and most delectable I've ever seen!

[Mary]

Wow! The photo is beautiful as well as thought-provoking. Tell J congratulations!

I got a kick out of reading the curator's description--especially the last sentence--definite "artspeak." Your description was so much more lucid.

[john]

I can safely say thats the greatest banana split i've ever seen.There is a kind of delicious feeling to going overboard from time to time.Very nice post thanks

[mike]

I thought Pollock and Dali were both dead, but they are now obviously collaborating in a cafe in Montreal. Interesting picture by Jonathan...geologically unforgiving on the right, an echo of that on the left, with fragile and fleeting disappearing into the maw. Congrats on the recognition...glad you had a great night!

[rr]

Fantastic! So wish I could have been there. Would love to hear from Jonathan about the picture - and the whole event from beginning to end! but perhaps the picture says most of that anyway. Huge congratulations. And yes, how on earth is a print ten feet long made?

[Robert]

So a banana split may be a banana shared, but a banana shared is always a banana split.

Hearty congratulations.

[Robert]

PS In that last, tortured sentence, methinks, the curator's "mutually" is redundant.

[Roderick Robinson]

Not judging! And he presumably a francophone? But then perhaps Canada ameliorates that tendency so strong in French francophones.

By the way, I know I haven't commented for a week or so, but I was surprised to find the drawbridge down and being forced to apply for my laisser passer all over again. But it is, I suppose, a minimal test of intelligence and a small price to pay for the privilege.

[Parmanu]

Fantastic! I'm so happy for both Jonathan and you.

Even the picture of the photograph draws me into those spaces in the intersection.

[Lucy B]

This is all very wonderful. Congratulations!