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An exhibition by a collective of Quebec mosaic artists known as Poèmes de verre runs from June 12 to 23 at the Écomusée du fier monde, a universally accessible space at 2050 Atateken St. in Montreal’s Village neighbourhood.
It features family programs on Father’s Day weekend, June 15 and 16, including free hands-on workshops open to all and intended as “a playful and fun introduction to mosaic art.” No reservations are needed.
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The Écomusée du fier monde is a history museum about the industrial and working-class residents of south-central Montreal, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. It is in the Bain Généreux, an Art Deco-style former indoor public bath opened in 1927 and modelled on one in Paris. It closed in 1992 and the Écomusée moved in four years later.
Admission to the Écomusée is free this weekend. The vernissage, also free, is 5 to 9 p.m. on June 14.
The Poèmes de verre collective, started by artist Amiel Guérard eight years ago, represents more than 30 Quebec mosaicists; the goal of the exhibition, the collective’s fifth such show, is to celebrate the history and diversity of mosaic art and “to be submerged in colour and texture,” Guérard said.
And what a history: Mosaic art, made with stones, seashells and ivory, has been traced to a Mesopotamian temple in the third millennium B.C.
Participants in a workshop with mosaic artist Monica Brinkman from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday will use mosaic to create a fridge magnet. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., artist Laurence Petit (a.k.a. Gogofrisette) will speak about his work and answer audience questions.
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From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, mosaic artist Jeanine Decoster will lead a workshop at which participants will create a keychain using mosaic. Then from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., urban artist Laurent Lorenzo Gascon will speak about his work. His large street mosaics on buildings on and near Ontario St. feature images of Quebec cultural icons including singer-songwriter La Bolduc, musician Robert Charlebois, humorist Yvon Deschamps, singer Diane Dufresne and singer-songwriter and actor Pauline Julien.
Apart from this weekend and the first Sunday of every month, when admission is always free, admission to the Écomusée du fier monde is $14 for an adult, $20 for a family including two adults and three children, free for children six and younger and $8 for older children, seniors and students. On Wednesdays between 5 and 8 p.m., admission is $6. Accès Montréal cardholders pay a special admission free of $8 at all times.
Regular Écomusée hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays; Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 514 528-8444 to double-check on hours.
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