Vaudreuil-Dorion eatery serves tablefuls of local art
At Patate et Persil, a casual eatery in Vaudreuil-Dorion, you won’t find any televisions. What you will find is art — not only on the walls, but also on tables both inside and out, thanks to a collaboration with local artists.
By the end of June, each of the approximately 40 tables at the restaurant, located at 9 St. Charles Ave., will showcase a work of art by a different local artist, thanks to a collaboration with the non-profit artists’ collective Autour De Nous.
The project is spearheaded by prolific St-Lazare-based artist Madeleine Turgeon, who approached restaurant owner Éric Blais earlier this year with a proposal from the artist group to transform his tables with art.
The idea had sprung from a brainstorming session among members of the Coteau-du-Lacbased group, of which Turgeon is a founding member.
Turgeon said there were so many people who wanted to participate that there was no need to put out a call for artists. Participating artists have contributed work in a variety of media and styles, including plaster, mosaic, wood, oil, acrylic, digital photography, collage, alcoholbased inks, graphite and pastel.
“We convinced the artists that their work would be seen by so many more people in the restaurant rather than in an art gallery,” Turgeon said. “It’s a small restaurant, without pretension, very cool, very upbeat. People like the ambience. It’s a fun place to be.”
Many of the colourful tabletops are food-themed, featuring things like hamburgers, ketchup, parsley sprigs, potatoes or pears. Some are abstract, and others feature playful themes like hockey players, dinosaurs or zebras.
Each tabletop includes a metal inscription with the artist’s name and website, to encourage visitors to explore more of the artist’s work. “For us it’s like a huge playground, having art on the tables, art on the walls, art on the lawn and on the facade,” Turgeon said.
On Tuesday, the eatery held a launch party for the project. Turgeon said another event will be held in May when the last of the tables is finished.
Turgeon noted that photos of the first tables have been shared over 200 times now on Facebook, and she is already fielding calls from restaurants in Montreal who are interested in finding out how to find artists to contribute art for their tables.
Blais said neighbourhood restaurants like his are important community spaces where people can pause in their busy lives, slow down to eat, and meet interesting people. He said both art and food are powerful ways to connect with other people.
“The idea is to have a place where people can meet each other and we can connect. Art is an opening,” said Blais. “Many restaurants have big televisions, but that makes people less likely to connect. It is a more individual experience. It’s why I don’t have televisions. Art creates a different dynamic.”