Rideau Hall, Wednesday, March 21, 2007

My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are thrilled to launch the third exhibit in the Ambassadors’ Room at Rideau Hall—with the help of the country’s cultural and museum organizations—just a few days before the presentation of the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts.

We want to acknowledge how important artistic practices are to the community and to open the doors of this institution to emerging and contemporary art.

It is our duty to encourage meaningful dialogue between remarkable works of art and the approximately 80,000 visitors who come to this house every year.

Artists do not just beautify our lives; they help us examine and make sense of the world around us—at times, in a very provocative way.

Through a variety of approaches and different points of view, artists open our eyes, even though we sometimes have a tendency to look at the world without really seeing it.

The seven pieces we are presenting today are by five Quebec artists and are from the permanent collection at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, with which we were pleased to collaborate on this event.

Each work takes a critical and unique look at the portrait, the landscape, the still life and the abstract piece.

You have to interact with these pieces not only with your eyes, but with your soul.

Thank you for accepting our invitation today.