‘DIVERSITREE’ mural in NDG officially inaugurated

MU is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports public art within the Montreal metropolitan area. Co-founder Emmanuelle Hébert explains: “MU aspires to create an open-air art gallery and to use the murals as catalysts for social change. We will produce five murals this summer, bringing our total to 13 murals in three summers.”

Located at 6450 Somerled Street (corner of Cavendish), DIVERSITREE was created by Montreal artist Peru Dyer. An association between MU, the St. Raymond Community Centre and Projet Media offered mural art workshops for youth 13 to 21 years of age, some of whom were already part of a work reintegration program. The Monitor covered the step-by-step process of this mural extensively last year and even conducted in-depth interviews with MU co-founders, the artist and the Papayanatos family who graciously accepted to donate the wall of their restaurant for the colourful mural that now adorns Somerled Street.

The tree at the heart of the mural represents the different cultures that co-exist closely together. The joined hands are the roots that strengthen the collective wisdom and that bloom into plants representing the diverse communities living in this area. ”The Mouvement Desjardins is proud to be associated with this type of initiative that not only beautifies a neighbourhood, but especially contributes to the development of a community’s sense of identity”, said Andrée Lafortune, President of the Council of Representatives for the western region of Montreal, Mouvement Desjardins.

MU thanks its partners who financed the production of this mural: Movement Desjardins (Principal), the borough of Cote des Neiges/Notre Dame de Grace, the Caisse Populaire N.D.G. and Benjamin Moore.

After producing eight murals since the summer of 2007, Montreal will discover four new projects from MU: • 50th Anniversary Celebrations for the Habitations Jeanne Mance Corporation (CHJM): In partnership with the CHJM, OPERATIONMONTREAL.NET, the borough of Ville Marie and Gaz Métro, MU will produce three projects. Two murals will be painted along the bike path and a mosaic mural will be created by residents. The mural art workshops in addition to a graffiti art project will be offered in partnership with the Loisirs St. Jacques. • 100th Anniversary Celebrations of Patro le Prévost Community & Recreation Centre: In partnership with Desjardins (Principal), the borough of Villeray-St.Michel-Park Extension and the Caisses Populaires of Papineau/Jean Talon, Villeray, deLormier and Cité du Nord. The workshops will be given in partnership with Patro le Prévost. • Mile-End : Water-themed and in partnership the Fondation One Drop/Une goutte de vie, MU will revamp the Toto-Bissainthe Park located at the corner of Van Horne and Hutchison Streets. The workshops will be given in partnership with l’École Buissonnière and the Du Parc Y. • Latin Quarter: MU will produce a fourth mural on St. Denis Street with support from recurrent partners Société de développement du Quarter Latin and Desjardins.

MU will offer employment opportunities to visual arts students through the Service Canada summer job program. MU can depend once again on the continuing support from partners Simplex and Benjamin Moore for all of its murals.

Recipient of two national prizes at the 10e Concours québécois en entreprenariat 2008 and the 2008 Grafika prize for the concept of its logo, MU also was worthy of the 2007 Force du Défi de l’entrepreneuriat au feminine prize.