MONTREAL, Nov. 27, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Montréal Space for Life presents Christmas Season With Flair, a joyous blend of tradition, art and rustic charm, from December 6, 2013, to January 5, 2014, at the Montréal Botanical Garden! In a sophisticated mise en scène, the Main Exhibition Greenhouse presents a tribute to the Nordic nature of Québec, with five spectacular three-metre-high Christmas trees below an impressive flight of six life-sized reindeer made from recycled materials. Along a trail through all the exhibition greenhouses, surprising horticultural creations are showcased by a décor that is at once rustic, artistic and ecological. And in keeping with this festive period, during the first two weekends of December, twenty or so merchants, artists and artisans show off their "green" creations for a third year as part of the Christmas Fair.
In the greenhouses: An event full of flair!
Arriving at the Botanical Garden, visitors will see an immense, majestic outdoor botanical sculpture covered in willow branches suggesting magnificent antlers. In the exhibition greenhouses, unusual lamps decorated with wreaths reveal superb plants, showing off the Botanical Garden's priceless collection. The main attraction: the Main Exhibition Greenhouse! On entering, oversized antlers made from plants set the tone. Several extraordinary Christmas trees—one of red poinsettias, one of ferns and others of shiny steel wrapped in plant garlands—draw the eye. These surprising horticultural creations stand side-by-side with original craft pieces and works of art.
A fabulous flight of reindeer—created by artist-teacher Pierrette Lambert with students from elementary and high schools in Montréal and Val d'Or—soars majestically through the greenhouse's airspace. Sure to fascinate one and all, these superb reindeer are made from recycled materials, are covered with bark, lichen and moss, and are reminiscent of the plant sculptures starring in this summer's Mosaïcultures Internationales event. Also on display in the Main Exhibition Greenhouse are beautiful pictures weaved into large canvasses by artist Louise Lemieux-Bérubé. Recycling artists Hubert Soucy and Stephen Lindsay find playful new uses for objects that are typical of our northern climate. Finally, a magnificent botanical tableau made from staghorn ferns (Platycerium) of surprising shapes hangs from the wall—an alternative to the traditional deer or moose antlers often found in hunting lodges.
It is in this festive environment that several choirs—the Universalis vocal ensemble, the Conservatory Singers, the Chœur enchanté choir, the Décibel vocal group, and the Gens du pays vocal group—will treat visitors to renditions of the most beautiful Christmas songs from near and far during concerts every weekend afternoon from December 7 to 22.
At the end of the greenhouse trail, sip on warm herbal tea all the way from the Great North at the Biodiversity Centre's 1000 Days for the Planet Base Camp while learning how antlers are used as communication tools, as naturalist Gisèle Benoit reveals in her moving documentary In the Company of Moose, screened on weekends between December 7 and 22.
A Christmas Fair with taste!
A popular event for gourmets and appreciators of objets d'art, the Christmas Fair is back this year, on the weekends of December 6 to 8 and December 13 to 15. From organic, biological and ecological products, artisan-produced chocolate, honey and ice cider, to art, clothing and accessories created from recycled objects, to divine orchids, the twenty or so exhibitors at the Fair bring you a great variety of quality foods and objects to spoil your loved ones or to offer as original and much appreciated gifts!
To make sure you don't miss any of the activities or events happening at the Montréal Space for Life, choose one of our packages—you will have 31 days to explore each of our spaces!
Information (packages, rates, schedules): espacepourlavie.ca
SOURCE: Ville de Montréal - Jardin botanique de Montréal
Information:
Karine Jalbert, Communications Coordinator
514-872-1453 / 514-250-3230
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Claudie Camirand, Communications Assistant
514-868-3123
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