Who’s concerned about the MAC?
Nathalie Collard is concerned about the fate of the Musée d’art contemporain, which she finds doesn’t seem to concern many people.
It may take a provincial government more engaged with the arts to get this project moving again.
shawn 11:20 on 2023-05-26 Permalink
Yes, I work across the street now at Place des festivals and it’s such a crummy building to begin with, imo. The flank facing the square is dismal – of course there wasn’t a square when it was designed.
I did go to the MAC a number of times and it would be such a no-brainer to have a really great contemporary art museum in the heart of the Q d s.
Kate 09:53 on 2023-05-27 Permalink
I know. The side facing the square is basically garage entrances. Now, a museum needs a big garage entrance somewhere, for moving large artworks in and out, but that side is overkill.
DeWolf 09:56 on 2023-05-27 Permalink
It is a pretty shocking situation. This is Canada’s leading contemporary art museum (which isn’t saying much, but still) and yet the whole mess is being treated without any sense of urgency by the government or the public.
At this point, the museum should move back into its existing building and use the budget it has for expansion to build a new satellite pavilion somewhere else.
shawn 16:05 on 2023-05-27 Permalink
True. Other museums might have bigger collections but they’re not dedicated contemporary art museums. Amazing and sad.
Beyond the garage entrance, the whole building is designed to turn it back on the street. I personally find that kind of stucco-like blank white surface with the cheap decorative columns so banal. I seem to recall criticism and disappointment from critics when it was completed, too.
And yes, simply vacating it, radical as that might be, would allow the square to flow into the Place des Arts esplanade so nicely. I hope that becomes a discussed option.
Kate 10:47 on 2023-05-28 Permalink
In some ways, the CAQ is liike the PQ, only philistine. From having friends in various film and arts jobs, I know that grant money for artistic endeavours has always flowed most freely when the PQ was in power. It was basically the only benefit that came from having an explicitly separatist government, but it was a good one. As a graphic designer I’ve had good work from spinoffs of such projects.
Now we have a nationalist government that just gets on with it, but is focused only on business profit and isn’t interested in the soft power of cultural assets.
shawn 11:34 on 2023-05-28 Permalink
For sure, contemporary art doesn’t play to the CAQ base. And once more, watch worse, it’s in Montreal. If this was for a similar museum project in the regions of Quebec, it might be different.
shawn 11:35 on 2023-05-28 Permalink
Ok I have to wake up before I type any more replies here. Happy Sunday everyone!