Official Unveiling of the Sculpture “ÉCLOSION”
On September 25, several dignitaries and members of the current and 2019 Town Councils attended the grand official unveiling of the sculpture “ÉCLOSION”, which now stands at the entrance to the University of Montreal’s MIL Campus, located on Beaumont Avenue, on the corner of Acadie Boulevard.
Standing 8 metres tall, the magnificent stainless steel sculpture towers majestically over the area and bears witness to the undeniable talent of Claude Millette, the work’s creator.
The unveiling of “ÉCLOSION” took place in the presence of several dignitaries, including Ms. Michelle Setlakwe, the Member of the National Assembly for Mount Royal-Outremont, Mayor Mr. Peter Malouf, former Mayor Mr. Philippe Roy, Mr. François Courchesne, Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Faculty Affairs at the Université de Montréal, members of our current Town council, as well as the Town administration, including our Town Manager, Ms. Ava Couch.
A bit of history
In 2019, members of the town council and the mayor, Philippe Roy, launched a project to donate a work of art to the Université de Montréal to mark the opening of the MIL campus, one of whose entrances is in Mount Royal. The sculpture now stands at the base of the footbridge and symbolizes the link between the town and the university.
At the time, the sculpture proposed by artist Claude Millette, entitled “ÉCLOSION”, was selected by a committee comprising representatives from TMR and a representative from the Université de Montréal.
About Claude Millette
Influenced from a very young age by renowned artists such as Brancusi, Armand Vaillancourt, Jordi Bonet and Robert Poulin, Claude Millette created his first wooden sculptures, before going on to train as a welder and focus on metalwork.
A contemporary artist, it is in his studio in Saint-Bernard-de-Michaudville that he will create “ÉCLOSION”, which will weigh three tonnes and be delivered fully assembled to the MIL campus.
Over the years, Claude Millette has taken part in countless solo and group exhibitions, both here and abroad. His sculptures feature in numerous public, private and corporate collections, and it is striking to note the seamless continuity between the works he creates for gallery spaces and those intended for public spaces. Many of them can be viewed on his website.
It has therefore been a wonderful story, culminating in the sculpture’s unveiling ceremony. This spot will soon become a landmark for people visiting the area. “ÉCLOSION” is now an integral part of the landscape and identity of our Garden City.
Take the time to go and see it for yourself; you’ll be impressed by its powerful presence!
