New art competition

----Vanier Road walls to be painted in centennial theme

Deschênes Residents’ Association (ARD) is calling on local artists to paint two new murals on a couple of walls on chemin Vanier, as part of the neighbourhood’s centennial celebrations. Launching a call for tendering to artists on April 9, the project submission deadline is on June 1 at 5 pm. Providing $12,000 to the selected artist(s), project will consist of painting murals on the two north-side walls of the Deschênes Hotel on 52 chemin Vanier. The theme of the pieces will be a commemoration of the Deschênes village with a heritage perspective.

According to the ARD, the building’s ground-level wall is 12 feet high and 58 long, and the wall on the second floor is 12-feet by 42. To be painted between July 1 and August 1, the piece should be realized and ready to display publicly on August 15.

A five-person selection committee - comprised of three neighbourhood representatives, Deschênes district councillor Mike Duggan, a professional artist, a city of Gatineau representatives, and a cultural organization’s representative – will be responsible for choosing the winning artist(s). It stated that the committee wants murals that will raise a sense of identity with the neighbourhood, and that reunites historical elements in a modern setting.

The project’s selection committee will prioritize candidates’ proposals that demonstrate the highest level of excellence and quality, creativity and originality and visual impact. It will also prioritize candidates who respect the project’s theme, the durability of its materials and ease of maintenance, and how it integrates in its environment. With the neighbourhood experiencing considerable changes - as a result of Aylmer’s constant growth – that are negatively impacting Deschênes’ heritage infrastructure, ARD President Howard Powles said the project is a way of preserving the area’s historic legacy with public art. He added that it will feel good to see some more colour in the area, stating that the pieces should be kept up for at least 10 years.

The murals - along with the rest of the centennial celebrations’ festivities – were intended to be done last year but everything was postponed due to the pandemic. As the first event of the centennial celebration, Powles said other exciting things should be coming this summer and fall – including heritage walks with interpretation panels, and outdoor concerts.

While the Deschênes village was officially incorporated in 1920, Powles said the first settlement at the rapids was in 1821 with the establishment of a trading post. “It’s both 100 and 101,” Powles said.

Very excitedly looking forward to seeing the piece realized, Duggan explained said he’s dedicated to contributing to revitalization project’s in Deschênes and that the mural initiative fits under than category nicely – thanking the owner of the Deschênes Hotel David Lavigne for allowing the project to happen on his property. The initiative was made possible thanks to a partnership between the Ville de Gatineau and the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, Powles said.

More information on the history of Deschênes to inspire interested artists is available on local author Lynne Rodier’s website - https://histoirepatrimoineducation.net/author/lynnerodier/.