Context
The Tenant reflected on the gallery in which it was exhibited, Centre Clark, examining the interrelations between the gallery, the local artists' community, and the surrounding Mile End neighbourhood, and inversely, the impacts of the changes within the neighbourhood on the artists' community and the gallery. More specifically, the exhibition examined how the artistic community created value – both cultural and property value – increasing the desirability of the neighbourhood, which in turn destroyed the conditions that made it possible for artists to work there.
The work drew connections from the gallery's address at 5445-5455 de Gaspé outwards to various other sites involved in that building's valuation and revaluation. These include Chabanel district, and downtown Toronto where Allied, the building's landlord is headquartered.
As part of the exhibition, the following artists spoke about their experiences connected to Centre Clark, the building’s purchase by Allied, the recalcitrance of the City of Montreal to intervene, and the gradual decline of affordable spaces for artists in the Mile End:
Mathieu Beauséjour (FR 22 minutes)
artist, former general coordinator of galerie CLARK (1999-2008) and former board member of Pied Carré
Celia Perrin Sidarous (EN 13 minutes)
artist who formerly had a studio at de Gaspé, and has moved to Chabanel
Catherine Bodmer (EN 14 minutes)
artist and community organizer, general director of the RCAAQ
