This winter’s two must-see events
Manif d’art presents the fourth edition of the Winter Garden and a survey exhibition by Cooke-Sasseville
Québec, January 7, 2025 – From February 28 to April 20, 2025, Manif d’art will host the fourth edition of the Winter Garden! This latest version of our biennial rendez-vous with art is guided by the curatorial vision of Julia Caron Guillemette and as she revives the tradition of storytelling. This year’s theme, Echoing Tales, will inspire visitors with an exciting main exhibition at Espace Quatre Cents, multiple creative workshops, and public art in every corner of the city. In addition, Manif d’art will present a survey exhibition by the Québec City artist duo Cooke-Sasseville on the occasion of their 25th anniversary.
The 2025 edition of the Winter Garden will feature ten artists: Jean-Robert Drouillard, Marie-Andrée Gill, Marc-Antoine K. Phaneuf, Magali Hébert-Huot, Gabrielle Lajoie-Bergeron, Myriam Lambert, Jiwan Larouche, Jean Michel René, Skawennati and Noelle Wharton-Ayer. In total, some twenty works will be on view. While the main exhibition and creative workshops will once again be held at Espace Quatre Cents, where an entire floor will feature the work of five artists, public art projects will enliven the streets of Québec City right until spring.
Guided tours and creative workshops for students and the general public
As part of this fourth edition of the Winter Garden, elementary and secondary school students are invited to Espace Quatre Cents to view the exhibitions and take part in a variety of creative workshops. There will be four activities to choose from, each inspired by the artists’ techniques and unique creative expression. Students will learn new skills to make their own works of art, including vegetable-based cyanotypes, a small book about hares, a quirky animal sculpture, or a collage based on their own silhouette. The workshops will be designed and led by professional cultural mediator Gabrielle Borgia. The guided tours and creative workshops are entirely free of charge for schools. Please reserve your space by contacting communications@manifdart.org.
The general public can also enjoy guided tours and creative workshops at a cost of $5 per person, per activity. Whether with family or friends, it’s a chance to fuel your mind and warm your heart with art! Schedules and reservations will be available starting February 1st on the Manif d’art website.
Choose your own public art adventure
Again this year, the Winter Garden will make the streets and squares of Québec City resonate with several new works of art. Three circuits, from Saint-Roch to Old Quebec by way of Saint-Jean-Baptiste will come alive as they are imaginatively renamed Rêveurs, Citadins, and Curieux, as young and old wander and wonder at the works of seven talented artists. A full map of each route will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Beautifying our libraries
Thanks to our partnership with the Bibliothèque de Québec, artworks by four artists will enhance the city’s libraries at different periods throughout the event.
- Bibliothèque Claire-Martin : Jiwan Larouche from February 26 to March 31
- Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy : Magali Hébert-Huot from February 28 to March 31
- Bibliothèque Aliette-Marchand : Gabrielle Lajoie-Bergeron from March 1 to April 3
- Bibliothèque Monique-Corriveau :
- Marie-Andrée Gillfrom March 7 to April 6
- Video from Farid Kassouf et Renaud Lefebvre on Marie-Andrée Gill's work from March 1 to March 31
An ode to storytelling
he playful, poetic works in our programme recall past traditions of escaping the cold and gathering indoors to listen to people tell tales, legends, and myths. Each in their own way, the artists in this year’s Winter Garden embody the role of the storyteller as they invite us lend them our eyes and our ears. But these stories – part fact, part fiction – are only partially complete: viewers can play along by adding to each narrative to ensure they echo on. The works thus become the object of joint reflection, creating space for dialogue not only between storyteller and audience, but also between listeners themselves. And while it’s designed to delight the hearts and minds of children, this winter wonderland is sure to enchant people of all ages!
Cooke-Sasseville at 25: Against all Odds
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the irreverent Québec City artist-duo Cooke-Sasseville. To celebrate this career milestone, Manif d’art will present a survey exhibition of their work titled Against all Odds at Espace Quatre Cents, which will run concurrently with the Winter Garden. The exhibition will bring together roughly twenty works that are the essence of Cooke-Sasseville – a blend of wonder and absurdity, with a hint of dark humour. You won’t want to miss it!
Manif d’art invites you to a city-wide rendez-vous with art during
the fourth edition of the Winter Garden, on view from February 28 to April 20, 2025!
For more information, visit the Manif d'art website
for the Winter Garden and the survey exhibition by Cooke-Sasseville.