“Quartier Ephémère is a cultural association whose mandate is to facilitate the creation, production and exhibition of the work of emerging visual artists. In its activities, reflection and researches, it focuses on the highlighting the presence of art and the role of the artist in the heart of the city. It seeks to open up new outlets for artistic expressions and to achieve these goals, it invests into vacant buildings which are that transformed into art centers or venues for the mounting of temporary exhibitions.”

“Quartier Ephémère organizes and presents special projects as well as in situ expressions of contemporary artistic practice to introduce to new publics. This exceptional challenge is met and mediated by the poetry that the artists and their work always bring to everyday life; in modifying the social dynamics and in the interpretation and perception of our lived urban spaces.”

Quartier Ephémère’s programming is varied and international in scope. Through the process of application, foreign as well as local artists can be granted opportunity to stay and work in the spaces of Quartier Ephémère.

Darling Foundry
745 rue Ottawa
Montreal (QC) H3C 1R8
Canada

The Darling Foundry is a visual art centre renovated in 2002 by architects of Atelier in situ. It is composed of Quartier Ephémère offices, two exhibition halls and ArtBar Cluny. The two galleries spaces are different in character, so the variety of art expressions can be accommodated between these spaces. The first gallery, at 500 m2, retains its strong industrial character and reflects In Situ’s approach whereby the art displayed within the gallery must interact with its surroundings. The second gallery, much smaller at 180 m2, is more traditional, allowing the works to take center stage in the space.

The foundry was established here by Darling Brothers, in 1880, when metallurgical industry was in full bloom in Montréal. It was comprised of tree separate buildings, each with its own separate technical function. At that time, foundry employed around 800 people. Closing of Lachine Canal in 1971 marked the end of industrial vocation of Griffintown. Finally, in 1991, Darling Foundry closed its doors and was abandoned for next ten years.

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Bibliography:
www.quertierephemere.org