Place Jean-Paul Riopelle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Place Jean-Paul Riopelle |
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La Joute on Place Jean-Paul Riopelle.
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| Location | Quartier international, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Created | 2004 |
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle is a cool public square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It's found in a part of the city called the Quartier international.
This square is surrounded by interesting buildings. To the south, you'll find Saint Antoine Street West and the tall InterContinental Hotel. To the east is Bleury Street and the Palais des congrès de Montréal, which is a big convention center. On the west side is the CDP Capital Centre, and to the north is Viger Avenue West.
History of the Square
This public square was built in 2004. It was created at the same time as the CDP Capital Centre. The square was built over the Ville-Marie Expressway, which is a major road.
The square is named after a famous artist from Quebec, Jean-Paul Riopelle. He passed away in 2002. His amazing fountain sculpture called La Joute was moved to this square. It used to be at the Olympic Park in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Cool Features of the Square
In the northern part of the square, there's a special water area. It shows off a sculpture by Jean-Paul Riopelle called La Joute. This name means "The Joust" in English.
La Joute has a fountain with water jets that spray up and down. During summer evenings, a circle of fire even appears on the water's surface! This artwork was first put in the Olympic Park in 1976.
There's also another sculpture in the southern part of the square. It's called Le Grand Jean-Paul and it looks like Jean-Paul Riopelle himself. Roseline Granet made this sculpture in 2003.
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle has eighty-eight trees. They come from eleven different types of trees. Some of these include the Sugar Maple and Bitternut Hickory. These grown-up trees are planted in a way that looks like a computer printed circuit. From the ground, special lights create a misty glow during the evening shows of "La Joute."
About La Joute Sculpture
Moving La Joute to Place Jean-Paul Riopelle caused some debate. People living in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve were upset. They felt that moving the sculpture from the Olympic Park took away its original meaning. They thought it was meant to be a tribute to sports.
However, those who supported the move, like the Government of Quebec, believed it was a good idea. They argued that more people would see the artwork in its new location. They also said it would be shown exactly how the artist, Riopelle, wanted it to be. This included the fountain and fire parts that he designed.
