Outdoor art is a common practice in Canada to promote local and international artists. In this practice, sculpture gardens are the most appreciated by the general public.

Sculpture Gardens in Canada: Outdoor Art

In the heart of a sculpture garden, you can see, among other things, huge boots made of steel rods and filled with huge pebbles made by artist David Moore. You can also admire a set of concrete columns built by Robert Roussil in homage to René Lévesque. Or “Le déjeuner sur l'herbe,” a playful sculpture made by Dominique Rolland composed of a plate with bread and cheese, a bottle, a cork, a woman's shoe, but no guests.

Over the years, the René-Lévesque Park collection has grown increasingly rich. This enrichment took place in particular during a series of symposiums organized in the late 1980s, as well as international outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the early 1990s. A large majority of the sculptures therefore date from this period.

The outdoor sculptures are very diverse with, for example, the use of various materials such as steel, limestone and granite.

Outdoor art in Mount Royal Park

THE sculptures of Mount Royal Park have been there for so many years that it is difficult to see them today. This is due to the fact that these sculptures are rarely highlighted: there is no sign to explain the presence of these monuments on Mount Royal, between the Smith House and Beaver Lake. Similarly, we deplore the presence of an individual plaque that identifies the work or the artist, or the date of creation. So many things that make these sculptures almost uninteresting to the public today.

In any case, with some research, we were finally able to identify these sculptures. They are in fact sculptures created in 1964, on the occasion of the first international sculpture symposium in North America. Between June 23 and August 15, 12 sculptors from 10 countries collaborated to create unique works before the astonished eyes of the public. A practice very representative of this period. Among the works created during this symposium, some have been very well preserved. This is the case, for example, of the unnamed work by the Indian sculptor Krishna Reddy, which is still deliciously erotic. The same goes for "The Cardinal Sisters" by the Greek artist Yérassimos Sklavos, which is still as elegant and moving as when it was created. Or "The Force" by the Quebec sculptor Armant Vaillancourt, which remains just as elusive as when it was created. This last abstract work stands out from the rest because it is a cast iron structure painted black, while the other works mainly use limestone or white marble.

Over time, several works in the park have become more integrated into the landscape. This is particularly the case with the work "Le carrousel sauvage" by the French artist Louis Emmanuel Chavignier.

Outdoor Art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The sculpture garden of the Museum of Fine Arts Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a rather urban experience of outdoor art, despite being surrounded by downtown skyscrapers. It was this contrast that inspired Saskatchewan artist Joe Fafard to create “Claudia,” a bronze cow lying on the grass at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in 2003.

Other works of art have also been placed around the museum buildings, including a 1/6 scale model of Calder's monumental sculpture on Sherbrooke Street. This model, called "The Man," is located on Île Saint-Hélène.

Children would be fascinated by "Fanny Fanny," a gigantic bronze ostrich on roller skates. This ostrich was made by Marseille artist César Baldaccini. There are also two other sculptures that represent the elegance of the region quite well: the "Buspar Column," made by Nova Scotian sculptor Colleen Wolstenholme, and the "Split Column," made by David Nash from a torrefied oak tree.

Outdoor Art in the Twilight Garden

The Twilight Garden is the place that best represents Mile End, a tiny sculpture field set up by local artist Glen LeMesurier. Originally from Gaspésie, LeMesurier moved to Mile End about forty years ago. He began installing, without much haste, his assemblages of recycled metal pieces on a vacant lot at the corner of Van Horne Avenue and Saint-Urbain Street.

LeMesurier worked mostly at night, which inspired the name "Twilight Garden." The borough eventually regularized the sculptor's practice and made LeMesurier's small park official.

Currently, the park has about fifty sculptures that blend creativity and humor. The garden is filled with a wide selection of playful art. Glen LeMesurier originally started installing sculptures on a tiny piece of land at the other end of the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. There are now more than twenty of them available for cyclists and hikers to admire.

This area is easily accessible from the Jardin du Crépuscule by taking the cycle path or the sidewalk which leads to the viaduct at the level of rue Saint-Urbain.

Glen LeMesurier continues to provide the neighbourhood with playful sculptures. According to him, when he sees a house whose architecture intrigues him, he knocks on the door and offers the occupants the installation of a sculpture on the lot. To admire these works, head to the streets of Mile-End.

Outdoor Art in the West's Great Sculpture Gardens

Montreal's most impressive outdoor collection is undoubtedly in Lachine, spread between the local museum, René-Lévesque Park, and the riverfront. Nearly 50 works await visitors in a splendid setting. Pedestrians will particularly enjoy the sculptures surrounding the Lachine Museum, as well as the promenade on the peninsula of the magnificent René-Lévesque Park.

To discover the collection along the river, between the Museum and the Dorval border, a bike tour is more appropriate, since the dozen works are further apart from each other. This includes, among others, the work illustrated in this text and the one below. For those interested, there are many blogs on the Internet where you can find a one-day itinerary that passes through almost the entire collection.

The Douglas Institute Sculpture Garden in Verdun is the work of Edward Cohen, a former local nurse with a passion for the arts. He convinced many artists to donate one or two works to create a peaceful garden for the sick, which resulted in about twenty donations. Since 2011, no works have been added. It seems that the Institute could use a new representative. In any case, the Garden is still very pleasant, in addition to being very close to the river.