560KM, an installation realised in collaboration with the Quarter des Spectacles, offers Montrealers a glimpse into the world of the drave – timber rafting. Taking place in the heart of downtown throughout the month of May 2016, the installation seeks to create a meeting point to stimulate the senses and memory.  

The installation is inspired by the specificities of the site and the time of year it takes place in. The month of May, the thaw period, and the gentle slope of the site along Sainte-Catherine, which runs parallel to the St-Lawrence, river inspired the theme of the drave. This reference presented an occasion to showcase this aspect of Quebec’s history, while putting passers-by in direct contact with a natural and raw material, questioning our relation to natural resources. 

Taking its name from the North-South span of the Saint-Maurice River, the installation underlines the importance of this waterway as the last river used for transporting wood – the practice which was active until 1996.

Amidst a flood of over a thousand logs, visitors are invited to rediscover the space, to get in touch with the wood, and through the multisensory experience, discover the awakening of spring.

1000 oak, hemlock, cherry tree, and spruce logs, urban furniture, vinyl.
Installation spanning 50 000 sq.ft.