Montreal City of Glass 2010 will feature over 100 events in more than 40 places – galleries, and even Métro tunnels!   Read on.

Glass.  Hmm.  Well.  It’s been around a long time…actually since 3,000 BC!  And, it’s magical:  fragile and strong.  We look through it, drink from it, walk on it  – and now we can gaze at it.  The exhibit With Glass, Under Glass, Without Glass at the Musée d’art contemporain is shiny and sensational.  The show is part of Montreal’s City of Glass and presents works in glass from the MAC’s permanent collection.  I loved the glassy-looking black stallion stud that stands hugely in the MAC lobby.

However, I was told its glass-like facetted surface is made of metal, by artist Xavier Viehan, who recently had installations at the Château de Versailles. Works in the With Glass etc. exhibit range from shattered mirrors by Quebec artist Gwenael Bélanger, to a bathtub suspended in an aquarium by Catherine Widgery.  It reminded me of Damien Hirst’shark floating in liquid at NY’s Metropolitain Museum.  Neon, the ubiquitous urban presence, is shown, and my favourite was glorious green work, amusingly called Ciboulette 1968 (chive in english) by renowned Quebec artist Jacques Hurtubise.

DETAILS:

Runs until October the 3d, at The Musée d’Art Contemporain

185 Sainte-Catherine Ouest

NEARBY: Easy as pie!  The Hyatt Regency is right in front of the contemporary art museum!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:  A mere 5 mintues away.  Jump on the Métro (grab it right at the M.A.C). Take the GUY exit, for some of the best contemporary glass in the city at Galerie Elena Lee.  But before you leave the Métro, you can see the fabulous stained glass by artist Yehouda Chaki, recently installed by Concordia University,