18 Shades of Gay, Installation artwork in Gay Village, Montreal, Canada.
18 Shades of Gay was an art installation spanning Sainte-Catherine Street with thousands of resin balls in multiple colors arranged in intersecting rows. The spheres hung above the sidewalk, creating a colorful canopy that visitors could walk beneath.
The installation first appeared in 2011 using pink spheres at this location. It was redesigned with a wider color range in 2017 before being dismantled in 2019.
This art installation embodied diversity and acceptance within Montreal's Gay Village community. People walking through the space experienced it as a visible symbol of inclusion woven into their daily surroundings.
The best way to experience the location is by walking along Sainte-Catherine Street at a leisurely pace. The installation was particularly striking after dark, when the colors appeared more vibrant under street lighting.
After removal, individual strands containing 54 spheres were sold to support future art projects in the community. This approach transformed the artwork into a fundraising tool that extended its impact beyond its physical presence.
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