Montreal's Sculpture Gardens and Public Art
Montreal, Canada Offers Inspiring Public Art — For Free!
Aug 10, 2008
Montreal is a city blessed with plenty of outdoor art and sculptures. In fact, part of the art stems from the Quebec Ministry of Culture policy that requires a percentage of all construction project costs to be incorporated as public art.
So the next time you’re in town, meet some movers and shakers immortalized in stone, contemplate some abstract art captured in cast iron, and simply enjoy this art for the masses — it's good for the hurried urban soul. And best of all — it’s free!
Lachine Hosts 50 Outdoor Sculptures
Montreal’s town of Lachine boasts one of the best spots for public art in Canada. Here you can find a great collection of 50 outdoor sculptures in three nearby locations: Musée de Lachine, Parc René Lévesque and Parcs Riverains.
The museum offers a dozen and a half sculptures on site. A short distance away, Parc René Lévesque is home to two dozen sculptures as well as pedestrian paths for those on bike or foot. In fact, this is where the Lachine Canal bike path ends — or begins — depending on your direction. Travel along nearby St. Joseph Boulevard through the town of Lachine until you reach Parc Riverains, a three-mile stretch along picturesque Lac St. Louis that boasts an additional dozen sculptures.
Musée de Lachine is at 110 Lasalle Rd. Call (514) 634-3471. While the Web site is in French, click “Musée plein air” for an area map and photos.
Mount Royal Park
Mount Royal Park is home to the Mount Royal Cross, the most symbolic symbol of this city’s skyline as well as a monument to Sir Georges Étienne Cartier along Avenue du Parc. In addition, in 1964 the park hosted the first International Sculpture Symposium of North America. The result was a collection of marble, metal, and cast iron works that have stood the test of four-decades time.
The sculptures are located near the Smith House parking lot. A self-guided walking tour map is available at the Smith House Interpretation Center. Call (514) 843-8240.
Jean Drapeau Park Cultural Circuit
Jean Drapeau Park offers an open-air art gallery home to a dozen works sprinkled about the park’s two islands — Île Ste. Hélène and Île Notre Dame. Many of the works were introduced during Expo 67. The most famous is Alexander Calder’s “Man.” Maps throughout the site offer ample directions, but there is a bit of ground to cover. Your best bet to find all of these artistic treasures is by bicycle.
Here and There - City Sculptures at the CCA
The Canadian Centre for Architecture’s Sculpture Garden provides a spot of urban artistic relief on busy René Lévesque Boulevard. CCA is at 1920 Baile St.
Palais des Congrès, Montreal’s Convention Center, provides the backdrop for Quebec artist Jean-Paul Riopelle’s “La Joute,” a monumental fountain sculpture that’s showcased in a circular pool. During summer evenings, the sculpture comes alive with a ring of mist and fire. It’s a real crowd pleaser. At Bleury Street between St. Antoine and Viger Streets.
The McCord Museum’s trademark Inukshuk is an authentic Inuit landmark made of 200 stones. At 690 Sherbrooke St. W.
In Old Montreal, the statue in Place d’Armes across from the Notre Dame Basilica is a who’s who of Montreal history with Paul Chomedey de Maisonnueve, Jeanne Mance, Lambert Closse, Charles LeMoyne, and an Iroquois Indian all getting proper due.
And to set the record straight, the monument in nearby Place Jacques Cartier, one of the oldest public squares in Canada, doesn’t commemorate Cartier, but pays tribute to Admiral Lord Nelson.
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