Tower of Songs is a piece developed in 2017 by artists El Mac and Gene Pendon, BFA 94, as a tribute to the late Leonard Cohen. | Photo credit: Photo: Olivier Bousquet
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The effort was led by Concordia Advancement in collaboration with the art collective MU Montreal. The goal was to spotlight successful Faculty of Fine Arts graduates behind the high-impact public murals across the city.
The most iconic Concordia connection is to “Tower of Songs” — the 21-story mural on Crescent Street that commemorates the late singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen. The work was created in 2017 by alumnus Gene Pendon, BFA 94, and El Mac.
Since its founding in 2006, MU has created more than 200 permanent murals in 18 of the city’s boroughs. “MU is a love letter to Montreal,” says Elizabeth-Ann Doyle, MU’s co-founder, executive director and artistic director.
Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins, BA 97, director of Advancement Communications, asked his team to develop a strategy to promote Concordia connections to MU.
“We take great pride in showcasing our alumni — especially graduates who are producing street art that’s beloved by tourists and locals alike," he says. “My heartfelt thanks to every contributor who shaped this creative project into an international win.”
Daniel Bartlett, BA 08, served as principal interviewer and writer with Michael Gannon, BA 15, as video producer. Melodie Le Siege, BA 10, oversaw the overall campaign delivery and its social media promotion, while Marta Samuel, GrDip 10, served as publications editor.
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