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Update: Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of The Memory of Water mural at the entrance to Pointe-Claire Village
To mark the first anniversary of the creation of the mural by the ArtduCommun collective in summer 2020, we are pleased to invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at how it came to be, in this video clip.
- Video of the creation of a mural: https://vimeo.com/646513420
You can also watch these two short timelapse videos featuring how the mural was created:
- Promotional video: https://vimeo.com/486972546
- A look at the creative process behind the mural by the ArtduCommun collective in summer 2020: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/646499010
The Memory of Water – Inauguration of the historic mural in the Pointe-Claire Village
December 3, 2020
The mayor of the City of Pointe-Claire, John Belvedere, and the members of City Council invite citizens to admire the City’s brand new permanent mural, The Memory of Water, created by artists from the ArtduCommun collective.
“It is with great pride that we welcome this new mural to the heart of Pointe-Claire, a work that both embellishes a utilitarian building and highlights the importance of water in our history,” Mayor John Belvedere said.
While its official inauguration will have to be postponed due to the current circumstances, passers-by are invited to appreciate this new work in the heart of the Pointe-Claire Village by taking pictures in front of it and sharing these images on social media. “Let’s show our pride for our new mural and spread the word about it,” the mayor added.
The Memory of Water showcases various representations of Pointe-Claire’s history through the incorporation of archives inspired by the theme of water, echoing the purpose of the building and its immediate environment. Acting as a link in the collective memory, Lake Saint-Louis, which is at the heart of local history, is also depicted on each façade of the building through nautical, vacation and agricultural scenes. The lake promoted a rich agriculture, the transportation of goods, settlement, vacationing, the establishment of the sailing club and the expansion of competitions on the water (canoeing, swimming, regattas).
The project was carried out by the ArtduCommun collective, made up of Jasmin Guérard-Alie and Simon Bachand. The artists’ approach was based on archival research at Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) in order to illustrate various aspects of Pointe-Claire’s history and preserve the memories of it.
Many of the surrounding elements are easily recognizable on each of the mural’s facades. For example, the sails reflect the yacht club and the lake; the road and the trees echo the bicycle path along the waterfront; the convent and the mills speak to the architecture and history of the village; the illustration of the Blériot aircraft is a nod to the first international aviation meet in Canada in 1910, marked by the return flight both from Pointe-Claire to downtown Montréal and to the current air corridor. The large abstract shapes found on all sides of the building recall the sails of the windmill and create a dynamic movement that draws us to look at all sides of the work.
The first brushstroke was applied on Wednesday, August 26, and it took the artists 26 days to complete the mural, taking into account weather conditions.
The City of Pointe-Claire kindly thanks the artists for this creation, as well as the Ville de Montréal, who owns the building that houses the pumping station, for its collaboration.
“This fifth mural will enrich the public art collection in Pointe-Claire, and we are very pleased with it,” the mayor concluded.
See the stages of completion of the mural in pictures.
Information: 514-630-1200, communications@pointe-claire.ca
