Montreal's A'shop creates massive Art Nouveau-Inspired Mural
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 12:31AM 
For 16 days straight, from dawn to dusk, five highly determined Montreal-based artists (who make up the artist run collective (A'shop) worked on a graffiti mural of a Mother Nature-esque Madonna or a modern-day version of "Our Lady of Grace." Inspired by Czech Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha, the crew created this breathtakingly beautiful five story mural using 500 cans of spray paint in over 50 different colors.
Fluke said that he hopes this project will encourage other city boroughs to consider murals of their own. “Our city has way too much gray. So I hope this [mural] kickstarts a mural campaign."
To really appreciate the time and effort that went into this massive mural, here are some progress shots that were taken over the 16 day period.
Q&A Interviw below
What is the idea behind this piece? What does it represent?
Have you participated in any similar projects in Montreal or elsewhere?
We have been painting murals for long time and most of them for free. Nowadays, we generally get commissioned by the commercial and private sectors. We’ve done similar projects in Europe and in different parts of Canada but this is the first time that we’ve had the opportunity to work on a community project in our own city that allowed us full control over our creation.
What has been the general reaction of the passerby?
We were overwhelmed by the public’s reaction. At first, a few assumed that we were producing an advertisement for something and couldn’t care less. Once the word got out that this mural was strictly for the sake of reviving a boring wall, Folks got curious. We worked dusk till dawn, every day. And every day the crowd of people watching us got bigger. By the first week, it had become the topic of conversation around the neighbourhood. It felt nice to see people take ownership of that wall. Some folks made it a point to come see us every day. This one man repeatedly brought us freshly brewed coffee from his home. I can tell you one thing, we “own “very little of that wall . It belongs to those who see it everyday now.
Do you think the city should finance more projects like the one in N.D.G? Why?
Absolutely, because it’s a gain for everyone. What better way to regain dead space .
Although graffiti communities are close nit and we often share similar values, the reasons why we do graffiti in the first place are not always the same. Some want their name out there and have little need for the artistic side of it. As for others there is a creative process. If we don’t acknowledge it and support it, we are preventing these people form potentially doing great things as artists.
Reader Comments (23)
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Wow, it's really a great tribute !
I adore everything about this! Awesome job A'shop! It's visually stunning as well as (hopefully) pioneering a new movement. One which offers a way to beautify cities, towns etc as well as help people to value art and culture more. One that supports artists, creativity and expression. Thanks for doing this!
Amazing work! Really beautiful and I for one would love to see more graffiti work like this in towns and cities rather than the rubbish that people write everywhere defacing old buldings rather than bringing them to life. I spend alot of my time in Italy and it's heartbreaking to see the total mindless and disrespectful trash some people spray onto walls of a beautiful city. I've also been to a graffiti competition in London and I was amazed by some of these talented artists, like a portrait sprayed onto the side of an old bus, incredible. And only a few months ago I saw another fantastic portrait on a huge wall in Paris, it brought to life a little area which would otherwise have been very dull and grey. Great work, spread the word and educate, you are amazing artists.
Bravo, so very beautiful! How blessed to live in a neighbourhood whose home hosts such incredible imagery. To A'shop Collective, congratulations on creating such magnificence.
Wow, might I congratulate you on this artistic endeavour! It is absolutely beautiful, and so appreciated by us here at Dic Ann's Hamburgers, as we have for several years now, tried to promote the artistic murals that are here to be enjoyed in Montreal. If you visit our website, dicanns.ca, you will notice a link to "murailles" in "mon montréal" - or even on the main page, where I have put your mural in spotlight . Finally, we have a name to the incredible work that we see on Montreal streets!
You were influenced by Alphonse Mucha, and that I understand....I have been impressed by the work of Bob Masse (Vancouver) and Wes Wilson (San Francisco), who obviously were influenced by Alphonse.
Congrats, guys! Fluke and the gang - it's an honour to be able to contact you in this way and show our support! All the best!! Dominic, Dic Ann's Restaurants
ps..I have a large collection of posters by Lee Conklin, Wes Wilson, Randy Tuten, Mouse and Kelly,Moscoso, and Rick Griffin. All the San Francisco artists who pioneered poster art! (not murals, as they are another world!)
vraiment incroyable....de toute beauté. félicitations pour ce merveilleux travail. Je suis sans mot....vous avez la magie au bout des doigts et le coeur rempli de sérénité pour faire une oeuvre de cette magnificience!!!!
Bravo et continuez votre beau travail, vraiment super
B R A V O !!!
That is awesome. Great job.
Stunning ! I quickly uploaded this example from Vancouver (not comparable in quality) but the best in town at this time for sure in creativity that is "different".
Sadly they call artists worldwide the center of this mural was painted by a lady specially flown in from South Africa for ONE week only she nearly not got to see the City and less then a year later the grounds are fenced for redevelopment. On top they put this in areas where the rate of safety is questionable at times so not to many appreciative people walk by. http://bit.ly/uRzReN
That's what you call "a perfect art", BRAVO for you guys and a BIG BIG Round of Applause.
Can someone please explain what these "Rolex replica " posts have to do with this thread? Crazy.......are you able to delete them???
Where is this marvellous work of art! I want to behold it with my very own eyes... What a beauty! Formidable work and I very much hope your talent is put to such great use anew ALL OVER MTL!!!
Formidable! Les mots me manquent!!
My mouth is still open. How magnificent. And done with rattle cans? That's incredible! Well done everyone, that is just beautiful! I would love to see some of your work pop up in Melbourne! We have too many bland buildings.
Thank you for caring for NDG - the best 'hood in Montreal !
I love on the west coast now but I'm in town once a year to visit.
What is the address of your amazing mural? I want to go check it out!!
Adam
Beautiful!,
The Mural is on the Robinwood Building at Sherbrooke Street West and Madison Ave. -Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
This is breathtaking. I'm actually going to be in NDG in the first week of January - not five blocks from this building, if I read that address correctly. I will definitely try to go see it in person (hoping it stays there a while?)
You are the Stevie Wonders of Graffiti !! An amazing work of art and accomplished entirely in the dark of night. You DID say you all worked from dusk till dawn, right? ;-)
Sorry about that , our blog gets spamed from time to time;( will clean