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KM³: Public Art Walk And Special Events
Montréal, Tuesday, August 8, 2017 – The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership invites Montrealers and visitors to enjoy an unprecedented artistic experience from August 30 to October 15 this year: KM3(pronounced kilomètre cube). The event, part of the official programming for the 375th anniversary of Montreal, is a large-scale public art walk created as part of the celebrations. More than 20 original works will be installed throughout the Quartier des Spectacles – on building façades, in squares and parks, on sidewalks and in windows – encouraging people see the city in new ways: surprising, dreamlike, reinvented. A series of festive special events will also take place in the Quartier des Spectacles to complement the art-walk experience.
WORKS with a NEIGHBOURLY THEME
KM3 invites visitors to stroll through the Quartier des Spectacles, including its most iconic spaces and some of its most unusual ones, to see and experience immersive, interactive and contemplative works designed specifically for Montreal. The works will delight the general public, families and art aficionados alike. Curated by Melissa Mongiat and Mouna Andraos of Daily tous les jours, in collaboration with Julie Bélisle of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and Pascale Daigle, director of programming for the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the works will, each in their own way, change the way we see the city.
The creators, mainly from Quebec along with several foreign artists, are active in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, digital arts, video games, interactive design, fashion, dance and architecture. The curators chose the theme of neighbourliness for this first edition of KM3. For and with the public, the artists have dreamed up some new ways for everyone to live together in the city as good neighbours.
WORKS THAT SUGGEST NEW WAYS TO INTERACT WITH THE CITY.
- MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST (London, UK), DPT., PRESSTUBE, HEADSPACE STUDIO (Montreal, Canada) – A COLOSSAL WAVE - Le Parterre
An interactive virtual reality work in which real-world and virtual actions merge, freeing the imagination and intriguing passers-by. A Colossal Wave is also connected to the Phi Centre, where participants are invited to explore the work’s virtual world from another perspective.
Commissioned by the British Council, in collaboration with the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Hull UK City of Culture 2017, with the support of the GREAT Britain campaign, the Canadian High Commission in the UK, the Phi Centre and the BFI Vision Awards. -
ENSEMBLE ENSEMBLE – The Compassion Machine - Saint-Laurent metro station
By letting the immense camera scan them, spectators receive a personalized prediction of their future altruistic acts. Co-production: NFB -
RAFAEL LOZANO-HEMMER – Redundant Assembly - Pavillon Sainte-Catherine, UQAM A gallery of interactive mirrors superimposes the features of viewers with those of previous viewers, creating ephemeral composite portraits that straddle past and present. Partner: UQAM
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THE CONSTITUTE – Zeit-Slice (Germany) – Goethe-Institut – starting September 22.
An interactive video in which viewers explore three iconic public spaces in Berlin at different times of day and night. Presented by the Goethe-Institut and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership in collaboration with “Germany@Canada 2017 – Partners from Immigration to Innovation.” -
HUMAN PLAYGROUND – Milan Gervais and Hubert Lafore – Side Walk – Sainte-Catherine Street
An urban choreographic installation featuring poetic relationship games, silly situations, and invitations to dance on the sidewalk.
SEEING THE CITY’S SYMBOLS IN A NEW LIGHT.
PATRICK BÉRUBÉ – Our DNA – Promenade des Artistes
An Installation using a powerful symbol of Montreal identity: a spiral staircase suspended in the air and adorned with unusual items embodying the culture of neighbourliness and friendly back alleys.MICHEL DE BROIN – Seuils – Pavillon J.-A.-DeSève de l’UQAM
An installation with twelve metro-car doors forming a pathway for the public to follow. Partners: STM, UQAMIN OUT - OPAVIVARÁ!, (Brazil) – Complexe Desjardins
A creator of urban mini-utopias, the collective renews our vision of coexistence by blurring the line between private and public space.Partners: Complexe DesjardinsPAVRITA WICKRAMASINGHE – Frontier – Ruelle Dufault corner Sanguinet
Part floating island and part chandelier, a hanging boat lights the pavement below with a fantastical dance of light and shadow, reminding us of the nearby St. Lawrence River. Partner: Cactus
WORKS THAT HELP US THE URBAN LANDSCAPE DIFFERENTLY.
PHILIPPE ALLARD – La vie m’échappe – Loop starting/ending on Sainte-Catherine St. East
A poetic stroll punctuated with illuminated signs that help us appreciate otherwise unnoticed details in the urban landscape.LES ALTS – Place des alts – Place des Festivals
An interactive audio guide that immerses the participant in a blend of fantastical and realistic stories through a series of visual riddles. Partner: CALQTHEM GAMES & LEBLEU DENASTAS DESIGN STUDIO – We’re In This Together (France) – Place des Arts and Place des Festivals steps
Collaborative games featuring fun ways to make progress together and get to know each other. Partner: UQAMCHLOË LUM & YANNICK DESRANLEAU – Laocoön – Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
A photographic installation about the modern whistleblower phenomenon, with links to Virgil’s classic Aeneid. Partner: TNMANDREANNE ABBONDANZA-BERGERON – Inside Views – Berri Street
A series of residential windows in an urban park, through which we glimpse buildings past and future.UQAM – Stéphane Pratte, Anouk Bergeron, Karin Vouillamoz – Formation – Transformations –– Pavillon Hubert-Aquin de l’UQAM
An evolving project that transforms before our eyes based on the viewer’s position and weather conditions. Partner: UQAM
LUMINOUS WORKS THAT COME TO LIFE AFTER DARK.
MANATAVO – Bóglò glooïk – Façade of the Pavillon Président-Kennedy de l’UQAM
A playful and evocative exploration of communication through a video project and interactive soundtrack. Partner: UQAMVINCENT MORISSET and CAROLINE ROBERT — Bridge - Bench — Place de la Paix
An interactive projection that visitors transform as they sit on a bench in the centre of the square. The work embodies the evolution of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and an expression of the brief encounters among the square’s regulars, skaters and passers-by.ATOMIC3 – Prrr... – Avenue de l’Hôtel-de-ville
Music and lights evoke the neighbourhood’s memories. The glow emanating from enormous blinds invites passers-by to walk down this quiet street and discover a small house frozen in time.YING GAO – Still life – A Certain Kind of Nature – Façade of UQAM’s Design centre
Undulating, interactive textile sculptures inspired by mathematical forms, accompanied by a video projection. Partner: UQAMALEXANDRE CASTONGUAY – Bike Wheel – Grande Bibliothèque
An enormous wheel made out of bicycles is activated by participants pedalling bikes on the ground. “Agit POV” units attached to the bicycles display words from passers-by on the wheels. After dark, the work also includes a video projection. Partner: BAnQ, Grande Bibliothèque
WORKS FROM THE MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ART COLLECTION.
GILLES MIHALCEAN – Paquets de lumière – Le Parterre
A triptych of sculptures whose dancing forms celebrate performance.JONATHAN VILLENEUVE – Lux obscura – Émery St.</
An installation paying tribute to film noir through patterns of shadow and light projected on the ground.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Complementing the art walk, a compelling series of festive events will energize the Quartier des Spectacles during KM3
Official opening of KM3
August 30, starting at 5 p.m.
Place des Festivals
With the artists in attendance
Free event, open to the public
Attend the official unveiling of the KM3 art walk, with the artists and numerous dignitaries in attendance. There will be entertainment throughout the evening, guided tours of the art walk, DJs and a few surprises. Don’t miss it!
Le Banquet exquis
August 30, starting at 5 p.m.
Place des Festivals
To celebrate the opening of KM3, Nicolas Fonseca and Judith Portier will host an over-the-top neighbourhood banquet crafted from Montrealers’ most treasured culinary memories. Inspired by the surrealist cadavre exquis game, a poetic pantry will give the public the chance to create menus in their own image, while chefs will improvise delicious creations on the spot.
To take part in this unique culinary experience, reserve your seat at the banquet today!
Space is limited. Reservation: km3artpublic.com
Mouvements libres
September 8, 7 p.m.
Place des Festivals
By itself, a 300-cyclist night ride is an extraordinary event. It becomes something magical when each rider’s pedalling contributes to a collective artwork. Enthusiasts of all ages are invited to come to a poetic defence of urban cycling. Thanks to an Agit POV unit attached to their bike’s spokes, each participant will display a word of their choice. Later, Queen Ka will rap the evening to a close.
Director: François Bernier
Based on an artwork by: Alexandre Castonguay
Space is limited. Reservations: km3artpublic.com
Le super méga continental
September 15, 8 p.m.
September 16, 4 and 8 p.m.
September 17, 4 p.m.
Place des Festivals
A gigantic contemporary line dance will celebrate Montreal’s 375th anniversary in the Place des Festivals. Conceived by the renowned choreographer Sylvain Émard, this project features 375 amateur dancers who will plunge body and soul into this huge dance extravaganza. After the evening performances, a huge dance party will take over Place des Festivals. A co-presentation of Sylvain Émard Danse and Festival TransAmériques.
Humanorium – L’étrange fête foraine
October 5 to 15, 2017
Les Jardins Gamelin
With its tents, trailers, carousel and shooting gallery, HUMANORIUM resembles 19th and 20th century carnivals… only this one’s attractions were created by contemporary artists: a grocery-cart carousel, cabinets of curiosities packed with assorted sculptures, photographs and soundscapes.
A project by EXMURO ARTS PUBLICS
Curators: Vincent Roy and Ève Cadieux
Artists’biographies are available here. (in French only).
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
Guided tours
Several different tours are available, on foot or bicycle, developed in collaboration with Fitz & Follwell.
Information and reservations: km3artpublic.com
Creative workshops for Kirds
Workshops inspired by the works of KM3 are available for young people (age 5 to 13). Most workshops are presented in collaboration with Chromatic.
Information and reservations: km3artpublic.com
ABOUT KM3
KM3 (kilomètre cube) opens new perspectives on the city through today’s most innovative public art. From the Quartier des Spectacles’ iconic squares to some of its most unusual places, this art walk features more than 20 immersive, participatory and contemplative public artworks that renew our vision of the urban fabric and the people we share it with. KM3 is an initiative of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and is one of the government of Quebec’s gifts to Montreal on the occasion of its 375th anniversary. The event is made possible by the financial support of, among others, the government of Quebec and the Ville de Montréal within the framework of the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal.
For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com/km3.
ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP
The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. Year round, the Quartier presents artistic video projections on several building façades. The Quartier des Spectacles is a showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.
The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 60 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination, and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership is supported by the Ville de Montréal and the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire.
For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com.
For more information about the government of Quebec’s contribution to the celebration of Montreal’s 375th anniversary, click here.
PHOTO
Image downloads: we.tl/QsK3EZRpH4
MEDIA CONTACT
Marie Lamoureux | marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com |
Mélanie Mingotaud | melanie@mingo2.ca |
Society for the Celebration of Montreal’s 375th anniversary
Isabelle Pelletier | ipelletier@375mtl.com |
