Even when toiling in tucked-away industrial studios, on-the-ground contributors to Canada’s greatest cultural incubator revel in an atmosphere of support and solidarity

Story by Tony Martins  /  Photos by Tony Fouhse

In 2010, Montreal is a city of glass.

Some 42 organizations (including 25 museums, six art galleries, and two universities) have co-created the MTL City of Glass theme to attract visitors and intrigue jaded locals who already have plenty of cultural options. The initiative will include more than 100 exhibitions, workshops, and even subway tours, using glass and glass artworks as symbols for the city’s innovative artistry.

It’s an impressive undertaking, for sure, but high-level cooperation of this kind toward cultural and economic growth is commonplace in Canada’s most diverse and passionate cultural centre; in fact, it’s part of official city policy.

The document titled “Montreal, Cultural Metropolis: A Cultural Development Policy for Ville de Montréal 2005-2015” is a beautifully designed 74-page roadmap drawn up to help guide the city to the next level of global cultural significance and, by extension, economic health.

“Culture is already at the heart of Montréal’s identity, history, and social cohesion,” reads an introductory paragraph. “With this policy, Montréal also affirms that culture is a key driver of its development, economic vitality and future prosperity.”

Of course this is a lot more than hollow politico talk. At every level, Montreal is city that knows the value of culture and is strongly committed to nurturing it.

One example: longstanding events such as the Elektra International Digital Arts Festival have helped Montreal become globally known as a hotbed for electronic and media arts—which is precisely why Ottawa-born-and-educated Darsha Hewitt moved there five years ago.

“The media arts milieu is pretty darn supportive,” Hewitt told Guerilla. “Media arts centres such as Oboro and Studio XX are very supportive of their membership.”

Hewitt, who creates sound installations and performances using handmade electronics, is quick to point out that the benefits of being in Montreal extend far beyond her particular scene.

“There are tons of artist run centres … Living expenses are low and you can find relatively large and inexpensive studio space … there are lots of funding opportunities and presentation locales … There are a billion festivals each year.”

Not surprisingly, scores of newer artists become part of the Montreal fabric annually. The 2006 Census tells us there were almost 11,500 artists in the city back then; that number is now undoubtedly much higher, creating an even richer cauldron of collaboration.

“Everything I do is cross-disciplinary,” said Ottawa-born zine writer Jeff Miller who moved to Montreal in 1999. “I’m not really part of a purely literary scene, but instead a member of a community that includes musicians, artists and performers.”

“The cost of living is fairly cheap and the pressure is low, which is good for some writers, discouraging for others,” Miller continued. “There are various accessible grants available to young writers, including the government-funded Jeune Volontaire program that a number of my friends have taken advantage of over the years.”

Reuel Dechene is a Montreal native who moved home from Ottawa a few years ago. He makes electrically lit and wall-mounted sculptures using kitschy found objects.

“At a social level in Montreal there seems to be more of an understanding as to why one would choose to be an artist,” said Dechene. “The need for art in everyday life is better expressed, we smell and taste it in our food, we see it in much of the architecture, we hear it in the music and in community radio … we see it in children's education, and so on, all adding to our quality of life.”

Ian Orti, a fiction writer and music columnist for Montreal’s Matrix magazine, points out how the city’s geography is itself conducive to culture.

“Montreal is a highly dense city, meaning almost everyone is within a 30-minute walk of each other,” Orti said. “The rent is cheap and the beer is cheap and those things combine to make the perfect storm for any art community.”

To more closely examine the experiences of full-time artists in Montreal, Guerilla and photographer Tony Fouhse visited the painters, sculptors and installation artists at the William Street Studio in Old Montreal.

“The William Street Studio functions as a living, breathing workspace that continues to generate momentum,” said painter Mirana Zuger, another Ottawa-born artist now based in Montreal. “We are all aware of what we have and we put it to good use.”

About the portraits

These photographs of artists at Montreal’s William Street Studio are by Ottawa’s Tony Fouhse, the Canadian region winner of the 10 Best 10 international photo competition. The photos are now up against the work of nine other regional winners from around the world for the competition’s grand prize. For more about the contest, visit www.tenbestten.com.

Mirana Zuger, 27, painter

I was in England visiting my colleagues and was in the process of deciding were to root myself as a painter. One of my friends indicated that the William Street Studio had an available studio and, being familiar with the space, I had no hesitation in making the move.

I also chose Montreal to be closer to my mentor Françoise Sullivan. There is a beautiful bridge that exists between the younger and older generation of artists. Harnessing these relationships is a precious gift as well as a highlight of being part of Montreal’s rich artistic community.

Montreal has always been a nesting ground for artists and musicians, but I have noticed that more and more artists from Chicago and New York are coming to Montreal to pursue their artistic careers and are in no hurry to leave.

Jonathan Villeneuve, 30, installation artist

I think there are only so few cities like Montreal in the world, where you can afford to live as an artist without having to work two day jobs in order to be able to pay your rent. I just don't see where else I could have a situation like the one I have here. It's also my home, and I feel deeply rooted to this city.

A large portion of Montrealers understands the importance of culture as part of the public space. There are a lot of spaces like our studio in Montreal, and hopefully it can still be like that for a while. As an artist, I think it’s easy to feel a sense of belonging towards this city.

The main problem for people thinking of staying in Montreal seems to be that they have a hard time finding a job if they don't speak or understand French. I don't know ... Let’s say that's too bad.

Maskull Lasserre, 31, sculptor

Montreal definitely offers a density of galleries, museums, and resources for artists, but it is the lived experience of the city's diversity beyond the specifics of a professional context that has had the greatest impact on my practice. It was for this experience that I came here.

Collaboration between disciplines is one of the best advantages to working in the Montreal context. An informal or unplanned cross-pollination happens all the time, and probably has a wider impact than the more explicit displays of carefully orchestrated collaborations people might associate with the community.

To the extent of my experience, the atmosphere here has been unerringly cooperative. The size of the “pond” allows for acts of personal and professional generosity that I have not witnessed anywhere else.

Trevor Kiernander, 34, painter

What lured me to Montreal over other Canadian cities was it's international flavour. There was just something about the artistic vibrancy of the city when I had visited prior to moving there, that hooked me in. I have never had any regrets about making the move to Montreal.

After finishing my BFA at Concordia, I spent a year painting and considering an MFA. I chose to study outside of Canada in order to “broaden my horizons.” I had intended on applying to grad schools in New York and London, but I have a British passport, and so the decision to move to London after getting accepted to Goldsmiths, was a given. London is one of the biggest art centres in the world, and you don't turn down an opportunity like that, regardless of how much debt you get yourself into!

Dominic Papillon, 33, sculptor

The community is great. Most of the people I know want to share information and create opportunity for their peers. There are some interesting things going on between key institutions and the artistic community. We also saw significant initiatives from certain individuals through patronage and the creation of new venues for exhibiting.

I feel fortunate to be able to afford living and working in such a great city. If anything, Montreal needs to be more and more present outside of Montreal.