La Joute facts for kids

La Joute, by Jean-Paul Riopelle, during the flaming phase of its kinetic cycle

La Joute (which means "the joust") is an amazing public sculpture by the Quebec artist Jean-Paul Riopelle. He was part of a group called the Automatiste movement. This unique artwork was created in 1969. Today, you can find it in Place Jean-Paul Riopelle in the Quartier international de Montréal.

What is La Joute?

This sculpture is made of many bronze figures. It has a central fountain surrounded by abstract shapes of animals and people. These figures are both inside and outside the fountain's water basin.

The Kinetic Show

La Joute isn't just a statue; it's a show! The fountain goes through a special sequence that takes about 32 minutes to complete. This show happens every hour from 7 to 11 p.m. during the summer.

Here's how the show unfolds:

• It starts a few minutes before the half-hour.
• First, the fountain's water jet grows to form a big dome over the sculptures.
• Then, grates on the ground at the back of the park begin to mist.
• Twelve grates mist one after another, taking about 90 seconds per grate.
• After about 18 minutes, machines inside the fountain create a very thick cloud.
• The main fountain jet then slows to a trickle.
• Right on the hour, nozzles around the central sculpture shoot up jets of natural gas through the water.
• These gas jets are lit by flames from some of the sculptures. This creates a dramatic ring of fire!
• The fire lasts for about seven minutes.
• The fountain stops during the fire.
• The misting also stops.
• Finally, the fire is "doused" (put out) when the fountain restarts.
• During the day, the misting sequence happens every hour, but without the fire.

Moving the Sculpture

La Joute used to be in Parc Olympique, in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve area of Montreal. In 2003, it was moved to Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle. This move happened when the Quartier international de Montréal was being redeveloped.

Why the Move Caused Debate

Moving the sculpture caused some debate. People from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve were upset. They felt that moving it took away its original meaning. They believed it was meant to honor sports because of its first location.

However, many people supported the move. This included the Quebec government, Riopelle's family, and the museum that owns the artwork. They argued that the new location would better honor Riopelle. They also felt it would allow more people to see the artwork. They said the old spot was hard to reach. Plus, the fountain and fire elements, which Riopelle designed, were not working at the old location.

In September 2013, plans for renovating the sculpture were announced. However, no specific timeline was given.

See also

In Spanish: La Joute para niños