Les Diamants: A New Quebec Creation to Start Touring the Province!

Montreal, May 20, 2021 – The Quartier des spectacles Partnership, the Société de développement de l’avenue du Mont-Royal, the Borough of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Culture Trois-Rivières and Montréal centre-ville are pleased to announce the winners of the Intervalle call for proposals put out in summer 2020. Francis Laporte and Alexis Laurence of Perséides studio have been named the competition’s winners for their proposed project Les Diamants, composed of three large rotating and sparkling structures that will light up public spaces day and night. The interactive installation will tour the province with plans to visit five cities and boroughs in Quebec.  

By involving several neighbourhoods and cities right from the start, this Quebec coproduction is breaking new ground. The Intervalle call for proposals aimed to give artistic creators an opportunity to design and present an interactive public installation at five partner sites over the course of the year. The installation is a joint collaboration of two creators who are well known here and internationally: Francis Laporte and Alexis Laurence of Perséides studio. They are working primarily with the manufacturing team at the company Jack World, making their installation a 100% local creation.

Les Diamants is an interactive work composed of three colourful, luminous structures that activate and “come alive” when spun like gigantic tops. In the daytime, the many rods with their ultra-shiny finish reflect the ambient light; at night, they light up in a whirl of glittering dots and lines. Each module delivers a distinct musical ambience featuring an original melody, composed by Stefie Shock, that speeds up or slows down depending on the speed of rotation. When several people work together to get each structure turning, the work creates a harmonious dance of light and music that is a treat for the eyes and ears. “Les Diamants was born of Alexis’ and my desire to combine our expertise and undertake a joint unifying project during the pandemic. We want to encourage people to get out, come together and reoccupy our public spaces. Our goal is to create a moment of poetry between participants and for the work to bring joy and entertainment to the citizens of the Quebec cities hosting the installation,” said Francis Laporte, Co-Creator, of Perséides studio. 

LES DIAMANTS EXHIBITION DATES AND SITES: :

• Montréal centre-ville
  November 18, 2021 to January 9, 2022: In front of St. James United Church, Montreal

• Société de développement de l’avenue du Mont-Royal
  June 29 to August 14, 2022: Avenue du Mont-Royal, Montreal

• Arrondissement de Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles
  August 16 to October 2, 2022: Parc André-Corbeil-dit-Tranchemontagne, Montreal

• Culture Trois-Rivières
  October 5 to November 20, 2022: outside Espace Pauline-Julien (Parc des Chenaux), Trois-Rivières

• • Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
    Winter 2022/2023: Quartier des spectacles, Montreal

QUOTATIONS

“We were delighted to accept the QDSP’s invitation to take part in this project, which opens the door to new ways of working together to encourage interactions between urban life and public spaces. The SDAMR is very happy to welcome this work as part of our efforts to pedestrianize Mont-Royal Avenue!” stated Claude Rainville, Executive Director of the Société de développement de l’avenue du Mont-Royal.

“RDP-PAT is very proud to be one of a handful of cities and boroughs that will welcome this cultural project on its territory. We are fortunate to be able to stage Les Diamants, a one-of-a-kind interactive artistic experience, for our citizens. We are also very pleased to co-present this project as part of a collaborative effort: it’s a remarkable opportunity to embrace a new perspective on art and make it as widely accessible as possible,” said Caroline Bourgeois, Mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles.

“We are very pleased to present this work in Trois-Rivières and to be a part of this collaboration with engaged and dynamic artists. This type of dialogue and shared experience can only benefit Quebec’s arts and culture sector,” stated Marie-Andrée Levasseur, Visual Arts Director with Culture Trois-Rivières.

“Montréal centre-ville is very happy to welcome Les Diamants to Square Victoria starting this fall. To have so many organizations rally around a single artistic project that will be touring Quebec is a first, and we are proud to be a part of it. This initiative is further proof that art and culture are important levers for spurring the economic recovery and enhancing the downtown experience,” said Glenn Castanheira, Executive Director of Montréal centre-ville.

“Over the last ten years or so, the Quartier des spectacles Partnership has developed significant expertise in managing and creating events and activities for public spaces. After presenting our interactive installations in more than 50 cities in Canada and around the world, we have set our sights on developing the community in Quebec to encourage this cornerstone of our economy and creativity. Our hope is that this exciting project will be the first of many new collaborative ventures with Quebec’s regions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the partners who answered our call and to congratulate the creators!” affirmed Éric Lefebvre, Executive Director of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

ABOUT THE SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE L’AVENUE DU MONT-ROYAL

True to its vision, the Société de développement de l’avenue du Mont-Royal has been working for over 25 years to enhance the Plateau-Mont-Royal’s quality of life. It does so by promoting local retailers, introducing a wide range of environmental transition measures and presenting artistic events and activities geared to a broad cross-section of society, all year long.

More information: mont-royal.net

ABOUT THE BOROUGH OF RIVIÈRE-DES-PRAIRIES–POINTE-AUX-TREMBLES

Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles is unique in that it is bordered by the St. Lawrence River on one side and Rivière-des-Prairies on the other. Its total area of over 42 km2 makes it the second-largest borough in Montreal. RDP-PAT is a forward-looking borough that boasts strong residential and economic development potential along with unparalleled sporting and cultural opportunities for the entire family.

More information: montreal.ca/riviere-des-prairies-pointe-aux-trembles

ABOUT CULTURE TROIS-RIVIÈRES

Founded in 1997, Culture Trois-Rivières is a non-profit organization that fulfils mandates from the Direction de la culture, des loisirs et de la vie communautaire of the Ville de Trois-Rivières. Culture Trois-Rivières carries out its mission in keeping with its vision and values by managing venues that promote cultural projects, organizations and artists, guided by its commitment to serving culture. Culture Trois-Rivières employs 150 full-time, part-time, seasonal and casual employees. Managed by Culture Trois-Rivières, Espace Pauline-Julien is a performance venue dedicated to the visual and media arts.

More information: www.cultur3r.com

ABOUT MONTRÉAL CENTRE-VILLE

Montréal centre-ville is the city’s downtown business development corporation (SDC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to the development, animation and promotion of downtown Montreal. The association has nearly 5,000 member businesses located between Atwater Avenue and Saint-Urbain Street and between Sherbrooke and Saint-Antoine streets. Montréal centre-ville was founded in 1999 and is the largest organization of its kind in Canada.

More information: montrealcentreville.ca

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership is supported by the Ville de Montréal.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com

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CONTACTS MÉDIAS

Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
Vincent Lefebvre
Advisor – Strategic Communications, Partners and Media
vincent.lefebvre@quartierdesspectacles.com
(514) 716-3731

Société de développement de l'avenue du Mont-Royal (SDAMR)
Fabienne Boussin
Communications Director
fboussin@mont-royal.net
(514) 943-5347

Borough of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles
Karine Tougas
Communications Advisor
Communications and Citizen Relations
Borough office
karine.tougas@montreal.ca
(514) 466-6045

Culture Trois-Rivières
Laurence Chartrand
Press Officer
lchartrand@v3r.net
(819) 696-7084

Montréal centre-ville
Dany St-Jean
Press Officer
dstjean14@gmail.com
(514) 212-5457