MONTRÉAL, CANADA.-To celebrate the 9th edition of the Journées de la culture and in conjunction with the École Rosalie Jetté in Montreal, the McCord Museum is happy to present a collaborative artwork entitled Sky-High dreams, inspired by the McCord exhibition, Growing Up in Montréal.

The project - Growing Up in Montréal provided an ideal theme for reaching out to visitors who do not always have an opportunity to visit the museum: young mothers. The École Rosalie Jetté in Montréal provides a supportive environment where young mothers and mothers-to-be pursue their education. In March 2005, thirty-four students and ten teachers from the school visited the McCord.

After viewing the exhibition, each participant was provided with a square of plywood and encouraged to create an artwork based on the concept of childhood. Many of the girls were interested in developing the theme of maternity. Under the supervision of artists Marie-Luce Maupetit and Dominique Noreau, the students created their pieces using objects and photographs. The only constraint was that they could not extend beyond the boundaries of the plywood square.

The completed works were then assembled to make an immense hopscotch, which will be on view at the museum during the Journées de la culture. A guide will present the hopscotch installation to visitors and be available to answer questions and provide commentary. This is the first time that the McCord has collaborated with the École Rosalie Jetté and the resulting artworks reveal an unexpected description of the reality of young mothers.

École Rosalie Jetté - In Quebec, nearly 4,000 girls between the ages of twelve and seventeen become pregnant each year. A third of these women will give birth and then leave school without obtaining their diploma. Exclusively for pregnant girls and adolescent mothers, the Rosalie-Jetté School aims to provide a supportive learning environment and to facilitate young mothers’ integration into society.

Growing Up in Montréal - Journey back to your youth and explore the daily lives of young urban-dwellers in the last century with the help of the McCord’s remarkable collection of toys, photographs and clothing. Growing Up in Montréal is on view at the McCord Museum until June 26, 2006.

Journées de la culture - The only event of its kind in North America, Journées de la culture continues to grow every year. The event represents a unique opportunity to expose the community to the arts. A collaboration between the Secretariat of the Journées de la culture and public and private organizations, its goal is to make the arts and culture more accessible to a greater number of people.

Sky-High Dreams is on view at the McCord Museum in Montréal from September 30 to October 2, during the Journées de la Culture.