The canal is a source of inspiration for many artists, local and not local alike. Dabblers and professionals alike see in it an interesting subject for painting, photography, monumental art, artistic professions…
Photography
Soulanges cycle path banners
Since the beginning of the 2010s, thanks to a project initiated by the artist collective ‘’Autour de nous’’ and by the Soulanges cycle path committee, the Soulanges cycle path has been bordered by 27 banner holders (1 per kilometre over the first 27 kilometres of the cycle path) which allow exhibitions outside the walls, to the delight of cyclists and walkers.
A call for photographers was launched in 2020 to renew the exhibition and eleven amateur citizen photographers were selected. Accompanied by artist-curator Caroline Hayeur, participants had the chance to be guided through various technical workshops aimed at developing their artistic approach to photography. The series resulting from this project are oriented around themes specific to Vaudreuil-Soulanges: rurality, mountains, water and heritage. Installation is scheduled for spring 2021. We can’t wait to share this exhibit with you!
The citizens who participated in this new edition:
- Samuel Anger
- Caroline Campeau
- Philippe Chevalier
- Patricia Chousa
- Caroline Forget
- Claire Gervais
- Alain Lajoie
- Valérie Langlais
- Nancy Lépine
- Natacha Marleau
- Stéphanie Toulouse
Photography
Bicycle path banners
From the start of the 2010s, thanks to a project initiated by the “Autour de nous” artist collective and the Soulanges Cycle Path committee, the Soulanges cycle path is adorned with 27 banner holders (1 per kilometer on the 27 first kilometers of the cycle path) which allows out-of-walls exhibitions, for the cyclists’ and walkers’ happiness.
A call for photographers was made in 2020 with the aim to renew the exhibition, and eleven photographer citizens were selected. Accompanied by the artist-commissary Caroline Hayeur. participants had the opportunity to be guided through various technical workshops aiming to develop their artistic approach in photography. The series born from this project are oriented towards themes that are unique to Vaudreuil-Soulanges: rurality, mountains, water and heritage. Citizens participating to this next edition:
The installation is planned for spring 2021. We can’t wait to share this exhibition with you!
Public art
These art pieces that surround us
Sébastien Borduas, 2020
Passage
Sonia Haberstich, 2019
De la rive à la rivière
Sonia Haberstich, 2018
Cocreated artwork, Point de vue sur le canal
Sophie Wilkins, 2007
Coteau-du-Lac fresco
The Passage art piece narrates the past, present and future of the Les Cèdres municipality. A character pointing to the horizon… symbolizing these canoeing travelers of the past who would stop on the shores to rest. Following the portage that would allow them to reach the crystal clear waters of the St-François lake.
A small tractor, a child kneeling down in the tall grass, a bicycle set down there… Les Cèdres in the present with its agricultural soul, and its cycling network. Waves on the River, hand prints left by school kids…the city’s vitality, the future awaits! Artwork made possible thanks to the financial support of the Fonds d’Appui au Rayonnement des Régions du ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation, in collaboration with the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the CACVS.
Once a relay for travelers, merchants and missionaries, Les Coteaux is born from the fusion of the Coteau-Station and Coteau-Landing municipalities. The artwork evokes the water via the metal’s reflecting surface.
The stone base and the Corten steel are reminiscent of the railroads that roam the land. The Saint-François lake shores are celebrated by the peak of the first steel sheet. The sinuous and dynamic flow of the Delisle river is represented by the second sheet. Artwork made possible thanks to the financial support of the Fonds d’Appui au Rayonnement des Régions du ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation, in collaboration with the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the CACVS.
“Point de vue sur le canal” marked the start of our interventions at the canal. A shipping container served as our consulting office, and the artist Sonia Haberstich created bubbles with the citizens who would come visit us there. Reproduced and stuck on the container, they remind us of the citizen process that inspires our actions around the canal.
The citizen consultation “Point de vue sur le canal” happened during the summer of 2018. The consulting container roamed the lands of Pointe-des-Cascades, Les Cèdres, Coteau-du-Lac and Les Coteaux to meet the citizens. Today, the shipping container covered in citizen bubbles is a master piece of our animations. Since the summer of 2019, it’s positioned each summer in Coteau-du-Lac’s city centre, and is used as a kayak rental kiosk.
This fresco, painted by artist Sophie Wilkins, was inaugurated on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of Coteau-du-Lac, in 2007. It tells the significant moments and elements of its history. Represented on it are elemnts such as the work’s building, the agricultural and maritime identity, the presence of Natives, among others.
We can reach the mural by the chemin du Fleuve in Coteau-du-Lac, or by foot via the chemin du Vieux-Canal which leads near to the bridge.
Public art
These art pieces that surround us
Sébastien Borduas, 2020
Passage
The Passage art piece narrates the past, present and future of the Les Cèdres municipality. A character pointing to the horizon… symbolizing these canoeing travelers of the past who would stop on the shores to rest, before the portage that would lead them to the crystal-clear waters of the St-François lake.
A small tractor, a child kneeling down in the tall grass, a bicycle set down there… Les Cèdres in the present with its agricultural soul, and its cycling network. Waves on the River, hand prints left by school kids…the city’s vitality, the future awaits! Artwork made possible thanks to the financial support of the Fonds d’Appui au Rayonnement des Régions du ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation, in collaboration with the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the CACVS.
Sonia Haberstich, 2019
De la rive à la rivière
Once a relay for travelers, merchants and missionaries, Les Coteaux is born from the fusion of the Coteau-Station and Coteau-Landing municipalities.
The stone base and the Corten steel are reminiscent of the railroads that roam the land. The Saint-François lake shores are celebrated by the peak of the first steel sheet. The sinuous and dynamic flow of the Delisle river is represented by the second sheet. The water is represented by the metal’s reflecting surface. Artwork made possible thanks to the financial support of the Fonds d’Appui au Rayonnement des Régions du ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation, in collaboration with the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the CACVS.
Sonia Haberstich, 2018
Cocreated artwork, Point de vue sur le canal
“Point de vue sur le canal” marked the start of our interventions at the canal. A shipping container served as our consulting office, and the artist Sonia Haberstich created bubbles with the citizens who would come visit us there. Reproduced and stuck on the container, they remind us of the citizen process that inspires our actions around the canal.
The citizen consultation “Point de vue sur le canal” happened during the summer of 2018. The consulting container roamed the lands of Pointe-des-Cascades, Les Cèdres, Coteau-du-Lac and Les Coteaux to meet the citizens. Today, the shipping container covered in citizen bubbles is a master piece of our animations. Since the summer of 2019, it’s positioned each summer in Coteau-du-Lac’s city centre, and is used as a kayak rental kiosk.
Sophie Wilkins, 2007
Coteau-du-Lac fresco
This fresco, painted by artist Sophie Wilkins, was inaugurated on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of Coteau-du-Lac, in 2007. It tells the significant moments and elements of its history. Represented on it are elemnts such as the work’s building, the agricultural and maritime identity, the presence of Natives, among others.
We can reach the mural by the chemin du Fleuve in Coteau-du-Lac, or by foot via the chemin du Vieux-Canal which leads near to the bridge.
Literature
Since 2010, the Regional Museum of Vaudreuil-Soulanges has been publishing the adventures of Cyprienne the mouse. With the power of time travel, Cyprienne offers children ages 3 to 9 a chance to explore the past through these captivating illustrated history books. In the 11th volume, our hero Cyprienne is transported to “Little Power”!
The adventures of Cyprienne are the artwork writer Chantal Séguin, curator of visual arts and director of educational programs at the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional Museum and illustrator Johanne Mitchell.
Order a trio of the adventures of Cyprienne on our online store!
Literature
Since 2010, the Regional Museum of Vaudreuil-Soulanges has been publishing the adventures of Cyprienne the mouse. With the power of time travel, Cyprienne offers children ages 3 to 9 a chance to explore the past through these captivating illustrated history books.
In the 11th volume, our hero Cyprienne is transported to “Little Power”! The Adventures of Cyprienne are the work of writer Chantal Séguin, curator of visual arts and director of educational programs at the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional Museum, and illustrator Johanne Mitchell.
Order a trio of the adventures of Cyprienne on our online store!
Sound art
Archipel, the sound documentary
Born from the collaboration of sound artists Guillaume Côté and Guillaume Campion in 2016, the Archipel Project offer an exploration of the shores of the Montreal Archipelago through sound recordings and interviews. After launching a first series on the banks of the Saint-Laurent, the two artists took an interest in our beautiful canal for their second series of the Archipel Project.
10 audio capsules were therefore coproduced by 12 citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in 2019. These provide a unique portrait of the majestic Soulanges Canal, testifying to the residents’ attachment to this vestige of another era and to the efforts of development currently underway.
Citizens who participated in the project:
- France Biron
- Sebastien Roy
- Annie Binette
- Sophie Daoust
- Philippe Chevalier
- Justine Verreault Fortin
- Caroline Thivierge
- Réal Ménard
- Natacha Marleau
- Valérie Langlais
- Marjolaine Campion
- Marilou Fortin
Sound art
Archipel, the
sound documentary
Born from the collaboration between sound artists Guillaume Côté and Guillaume Campion in 2016,Projet Archipel proposes an exploration of the shores of the Montreal archipelago through sound recordings and interviews.. After launching a first series on the shores of the Saint Lawrence river, the two artists decided to focus on our beautiful canal for their second series of Projet Archipel.
10 sound capsules were then co-produced by 12 Vaudreuil-Soulanges citizens in 2019. These capsules draw a peculiar portrait of the majestic Soulanges canal, bearing witness to the residents’ attachment to this remnant of another era and to the enhancement efforts currently being made.
Citizens having participated to the project :
- France Biron
- Sebastien Roy
- Annie Binette
- Sophie Daoust
- Philippe Chevalier
- Justine Verreault Fortin
- Caroline Thivierge
- Réal Ménard
- Natacha Marleau
- Valérie Langlais
- Marjolaine Campion
- Marilou Fortin
This project was made possible thanks to the “Des ponts culturels d’une rive à l’autre” program from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, as well as to the support of the municipalities of Pointe-des-Cascades, Les Cèdres, Coteau-du-Lac and Les Coteaux.
Have an idea for a project in mind?
The cultural projects along the canal are made possible thanks to the precious collaboration of the Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
