The Lampshades of Cartier Avenue: A Stronghold for Artistic Expression in Québec City
Walking down Cartier Avenue in Québec City’s Montcalm neighbourhood is now something akin to walking through an outdoor gallery, all thanks to 34 giant lampshades which illuminate the street with far more than just light.
4 of the Cartier Avenue’s 34 giant lampshades. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
Art, when harnessed and appreciated to its full capacity, has a transformative effect. We often think of this in terms of the effect that a single piece of art may have on us at a museum or gallery, but what about when a collection of art aims to have have an effect on an entire neighbourhood?
This past winter, I set out to understand how Québec City had managed to make itself into such a winter wonderland. Winter in Québec City is something to behold, but that didn’t happen by accident. The giant lampshades of Cartier Avenue, in my humble opinion, are a microcosm for the way in which the city takes strides to create warmth, coziness, and community, especially in the colder months, through artistic initiatives.
How the Giant Lampshades of Cartier Avenue Came to Be
It all started in 2013 when the ever-inventive Montreal-based lighting firm, Lightemotion, proposed this unique idea to both Québec’s tourism office, as well as the Montcalm neighbourhood’s business improvement association. They were known at the time, and still are in many respects, as a go-to, inventive company to tap on the shoulder to if you were looking to illuminate an interior or exterior around the globe (think museums, interactive exhibits, hotels etc.).
Their goal? To use 34 giant lightshades on Avenue Cartier in the Montcalm neighbourhood to create “a floating gallery.”
François Roupinian, Founder and President of Lightemotion elaborated on this further, as the “floating gallery” was in many ways a tool to evoke emotion and convey deeper goals related to the project.
“Our major challenge was to respect the soul of Cartier Avenue, while being bold enough to create a world-class project that would help make Quebec City a true international winter capital.
Aiming to capture the identity of Cartier Avenue, Lightemotion sought a lighting concept that could express the strong community spirit which characterizes this quartier. At the same time, the installation needed to be spectacular enough to be an event in itself.
The idea of hanging lampshades was a perfect fit for those objectives. On the one hand, the shape of the lighting fixtures gives the avenue the cozy warmth of a residential interior. On the other hand, the large artworks, backlit by LED strips and mounted on circular structures 8 feet across by 5 feet high, are an original urban medium for displaying art. Conceived from the idea of neighbourhood life, Lightemotion developed the concept of an art gallery floating in space, which could inspire many more such projects around the world.”
A Gallery Like No Other
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a fair bit around this globe of ours, from Europe to Asia, and one thing that strikes me is that I haven’t quite ever seen an artistic project like this.
For one, kudos to Québec City for hiring a firm based in the province of Québec, as well as utilizing images on the striking lampshades from Québecois artists. I’m told the lampshades are largely collages of archive photos and drawings from MNBAQ (Musée national des beaux arts), and you can see the work of such Québecois artists as Alfred Pellan and Fernand Leduc, with some contributions from Diane Obomsawin and more.
I’m in awe of the way in which this city and province finds ways to highlight local talent. In many ways, it’s a self-serving sort of prophecy. Artists see that their work is valued, and pour more into their respective ventures, and as they put more time into their craft, they naturally get better and better, and more and more edgy. And on and on it goes.
It’s funny, but the lampshades feel as if they were always meant to be there, as if they add to the charm and the buzz of Cartier Avenue. During the day, that’s especially the case, but if you’re keen on photography like yours truly, make sure you visit at night as well.
Scène Éthique also worked on this project in-depth, and in my research, I found an interesting tidbit worth sharing. “While performing tests for the installation of a prototype, Scène Éthique noticed that the suspension system was inadequate as there was no way to anchor the system safely to the designated buildings. Our designers sprang into action very quickly and designed a sidewalk anchored steel structure allowing the suspension of 2 lampshades each.
These structures are 16 feet tall with more than 8 feet between the legs on ground level which allows for traffic to circulate normally both on the road and on the sidewalk. The structures are not interfering with normal activities of the very busy Cartier Avenue such as snow removal or the winter carnival parade.”
Key Details to Know Before You Go
Looking up Avenue Cartier from Ch. Ste-Foy. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
The first thing that I’d say is to take your time. Each of the 34 lampshades is unique, and that means it requires your unique attention. There’s no point rushing up and down the street. Soak it all in, as each is worth appreciating.
The 34 giant lampshades can be found on Cartier Avenue, between Grande Allee and Chemin Sainte-Foy. Start at one end, and simply walk to the other side, but spend time on both sides of the street. Many people walk down one side, then up the other, to ensure they see it all.
Use this as an excuse to visit the local businesses on Avenue Cartier. You can grab a coffee at Café Castelo, look for books at Bouquinerie 4 Saisons, grab something for your home at Zone Maison, or grab a bite at a restaurant like La Mezzé Taverna Grecque or Restaurant Ly-Hai.
If you’re a lover of art anyhow, it makes sense to pair this exploration with a visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, as it’s located just at the top of the street, and it’s a fabulous institution.
Personally, I’m here for the touristic experiences in cities that still allow you to, in a sense, “choose-your-own-adventure.” There’s not a guide here to tell you how long to spend at each lampshade, or even how to interpret what you’re seeing on each lampshade — and that’s the point.
It’s an excuse for you to become better acquainted with the Montcalm neighbourhood, which Québec City rather aptly notes is “a perfect balance between bourgeois and bohemian.”
This was one of the highlights of my visit to Québec wondrous capital city, and I can only hope this article has empowered you to explore on your own, and to create your own meaningful connection to a street, neighbourhod, and city, like no other.