I was reminded of this scene recently while wandering around the Olympic Stadium area. I took the above photo in 2002 during the public squabble over whether this fountain, Riopelle's La Joute – the only major sculptural piece done by an artist better known for his paintings, and one of the few major pieces of public art in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve – would be taken away from this, its original setting, and moved downtown.

At the time it was still working as a fountain and visible to anyone who passed through the east-side Pie-IX metro entrance, as well as from the concrete walkway above. Claims that it was hidden away and neglected were spun as leverage to move it to its current location by the Palais des congrès. Various promises were made to replace it with another fountain or piece of sculpture after the removal. But this is how the space looks now:

I don't live in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve but I tend to think they wuz robbed.

At the moment, that entrance to Pie-IX metro station is under heavy renovation, so I suppose it's possible this is just a temporary measure. But it's been five years since the sculpture was taken away, so I wonder if any thought or budget has been given to the promise to find a replacement. posted at 13:35