Fonderie Darling facts for kids
| Fonderie Darling | |
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| Established | 2002 |
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| Location | 745, rue Ottawa Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Type | Visual Art Center |
Fonderie Darling is a unique contemporary art center located in the Cité du Multimédia neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec. What makes it special is that it's housed inside a huge old factory called a foundry, where metal was once melted and shaped. Today, this historic building is a bustling place with an art gallery and studios for artists.
The main goal of Fonderie Darling is to help artists create new and exciting visual art. It also wants to show everyone how important art and artists are to a city like Montreal.
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What is Fonderie Darling?
Fonderie Darling is more than just an art gallery. It's a place where art is made, shown, and talked about. The building itself is a piece of history. From 1889 to 1971, it was owned by the Darling company, which made metal parts for big machines. After the factory closed in 1991, the building was empty.
A cultural group called Quartier Éphémère saw potential in the old, abandoned industrial buildings of Montreal. In 1993, they began turning these empty spaces into places for art. By saving buildings that were going to be torn down, the group saved about 3,500 square meters of historic space. Fonderie Darling is one of their biggest success stories.
The art center officially opened its exhibition hall in 2002. Then, in 2006, it opened 12 studios where artists can work. The building is considered an "exceptional heritage value building," meaning it's a very important part of Montreal's history. Its transformation from a factory into an art center is a great example of how old industrial heritage can be given a new purpose.
From Factory to Art Space
The history of the building is just as interesting as the art inside it. It shows how a place can change completely over time.
The Darling Brothers' Factory
The original foundry was built in 1880 by the Darling brothers. At that time, there was a huge need for metal to build trains, ships, and machinery. The factory grew bigger between 1888 and 1918, eventually becoming a complex of four buildings.
It became the second-largest foundry in Montreal and was a very busy place. At its peak in the 1970s, it had 800 people working there.
A New Life for an Old Building
As the industry changed, the foundry's business slowed down. It was sold in 1971 and finally closed for good in 1991.
In the 1990s, the arts organization Quartier Éphémère, led by Caroline Andrieux, took over the empty complex. The city of Montreal owned the building and let the group use it for free. In return, Quartier Éphémère had to take care of the building and use it for art events.
The building was in bad shape, but the group worked hard to get money for renovations. By the early 2000s, the old factory was transformed into the modern art center we see today. Now, it has 3,500 square metres (38,000 sq ft) of space for the visual arts.
Famous Art Exhibitions
Fonderie Darling has hosted many amazing exhibitions by artists from Canada and around the world. These shows often feature experimental art that makes you think. Here are some of the notable exhibitions held at the center:
- Mark Lewis, Du cinema et des restes urbains (2000)
- Stan Douglas, Klatsassin (2007)
- Jana Sterbak, Waiting for High Water (2009)
- Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Where is Where? (2010)
- Shilpa Gupta, Will We Ever Be Able to Mark Enough? (2011)
- Chih-Chien Wang, The Act of Forgetting (2015)
- Ulla von Brandenburg, It Has a Golden Orange Sun and an Elderly Blue Moon (2016)
- Barbara Steinman, Diving for Dreams (2019)
- Michael Eddy, Je suis (2020)
