Accurate historical information on The Geo W. Reed & Co. Foundry in Montreal, Quebec, seems almost non-existent on the internet. One website claims that it was built in 1895 and manufactured coaches for trains until its closure in 1982. The site also claims that the foundry played a significant historical role during the second world war, employing over a thousand people manufacturing parts for planes and tanks. Other claims state that the building was constructed in 1910, and was once operated by Babcock & Wilcox, Western Steel, Westell-Rosco and Dominic Vadela Rembourrage. These claims have not been substantiated.
These days, it is most commonly referred to as 'The Graffiti Factory'. The gutted remains of the 3 storey building are now home to an ever changing canvas of graffiti works by local, national and international artists.
The first floor is a mud pit, which swallowed up my shoe and sock on this day in early July of 2011. After pondering exploring the building with one bare foot, I stepped back into the mud and dug out my shoe. With every step, my left foot squished in the muddy shell-toed Adidas shoe.
Brightly coloured graffiti of all kinds beautify this decaying structure. From the smallest of tags covering the fragments of tiny window pains that remain, to throwies and fill-ins, elaborate characters, pieces, and stunning murals perfectly placed between pillars, stealing my attention from the far reaches of each floor. On the higher floors, the windows have been smashed out of the massive skylights, and large beams of light slowly glide along the concrete floor as time passes throughout the day.
On the rooftop, under a glorious summer sun, the colours shine even brighter. Towering overhead is the Autoroute Ville-Marie, otherwise known as Highway 720, which is packed with commuters rushing in and out of the city of Montreal. Underneath the highway, the graffiti murals spread out like mould as far as the eye can see.
With no further adieu, come on in and explore 'The Graffiti Factory' with us. Ignore the constant squishing of my muddy footsteps.
The soundtrack to this exploration is the second single from my debut album Jerm Warfare. The song is called Everything I Touch.
Everything I Touch by jerm_IX
Every few months we return to Montreal to visit my brother and find new adventures. On this day, we also explored what remained of the abandoned, gutted, and semi-demolished Sifto Salt plant, which was also home to some quality graffiti.
Next week, we will stop in Montreal yet again, trying our luck at a few of the locations that have denied us access. This will be a brief stop however, as the hotel is already booked for a week in Quebec City. Stay tuned.
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1 comment:
Love the colours! Brightens up what is otherwise a dreary place. Great contrast.
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