Montréal Museums Day 2011

Montréal, May 5, 2011 — This coming Sunday, May 29, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal will throw open its doors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to offer the public the most extensive display of its Collection it has ever mounted. Taking up all of the museum’s galleries, the exhibition Déjà presents a wide-ranging selection of major, majestic, masterly works that are in the MAC Collection. Also on the program: a show put together by elementary-school student artists, workshops for all, guided tours and a most uncommon “Garage Sale” exhibition organized by the Musée for ARTV. These activities are all part of the 25th edition of Montréal Museums Day.

Déjà: The Collection on Display

In the exhibition Déjà, a hundred or so major works will be on display along a unique circuit that runs throughout the museum. They exemplify the multidisciplinary nature of contemporary art, and their presentation reveals some of the Musée’s rich heritage, including a number of monumental pieces, some surprising spaces and unexpected encounters.

The installation of these pieces is anything but rigid; it illustrates the abundance and diversity of sensibilities found among contemporary artists, some of whom are the authors of large bodies of works in the museum’s holdings. The curatorial choice emphasizes the intersecting of disciplines in works by artists from here in Québec, across Canada and around the world, by laying out a circuit that brings together such names as David Altmejd, Nicolas Baier, Louise Bourgeois, Mona Hatoum, Ann Hamilton, Gary Hill, Vik Muniz, Alain Paiement, Ed Pien, Wolfgang Tilmans and Claude Tousignant, to mention only a few.

Arrimage 2011

MMD will also be an opportunity to take in Arrimage 2011 – Geometric Variations, an exhibition showcasing works produced by more than 500 students from seventeen Montréal elementary schools following their visits to the Montréal Science Centre and the Musée d’art contemporain. In this group show, the student artists present pictorial pieces, modular structures and geometric volumes that demonstrate how art and math go hand in hand.

Bits of Worlds workshop

Starting at 1 p.m., the Musée’s art workshops will offer a workshop for all, with family or friends. Serge Murphy’s intriguing work Affections, 1993, will give you a chance to uncover your creativity and contribute to a collective mural. Using recycled materials and mixed media, you’ll invent your own “bits of worlds” in the shape of new and unusual objects. These compositions will then be assembled to form a unique piece made up of assorted elements. Special schedule for MMD: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Ice cream parlour

To tickle the taste buds as much as the artistic appetite, Bilboquet ice creams and sherbets will be on sale at the museum. Ice cream lovers can choose from a range of popular, delectable flavours. ($)

Shuttle bus service

This year, for the first time, the shuttle buses for Montréal Museums Day will depart from the Quartier des spectacles?specifically, the Promenade des artistes, just next to the MAC. They will start running to their various destinations at 9 a.m. But before hopping on board, be sure to make the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal your first stop!