Preparations for a summer of celebration are underway at Espace 400e, the official site of the 2008 festivities to celebrate 400 years of French presence in Quebec City.
A whirlwind of shows, entertainment, and free activities for the whole family will be offered every day as artists, singers, musicians, dancers, acrobats, historians, and conference speakers light up Grande Place, the wharves, the Ephemeral Gardens, Petite Place, and all around the pavilion for 17 weeks.
The celebration will include mega shows, productions and expositions — with more than 130 activities.
The Image Mill, the world’s largest multi-media projection show created by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina, started lighting up Quebec City’s Old Port grain silos as part of the celebration.
The 81 grain silos are transformed into a huge screen of almost 2000 feet long. This multimedia experience featuring the city’s history will be presented until August 24th — from 10 to 10:40 pm regardless of the weather, say the event organizers.
The entire south side of the Louise Basin from Pointe-Ã -Carcy to the western extremity of the basin is wired for sound with speakers. A total of 329 speakers, 27 video projectors, 20,000 lumens each, and 238 spotlights are being used around the site.
The work consists of four movements corresponding to the city’s four centuries of history: waterways, the age of exploration and discovery; road building, clearing and developing the land; the railroad and industrial expansion; and finally, the age of air travel and the development of communications.
Report by David Wilkening
