In response to encouraging inquiries and support, the building became host to its first cultural events in 2001. That year saw the first trade art shows, at which more than thirty-five artists met to trade their work.
Gravy Bath Productions was the first group to approach Roy Street with a theatre project.
KOPULATION
The positive reaction surrounding the events in 2001 motivated larger events in 2002. The first were produced in collaboration with graffiti crew KOPS and band Rythmn Mercenaries, with Roy Street hosting over five hundred people at each of the multi-media art parties: AKOPOLYPSE and KOPULATION. The success of these events made it apparent that Roy Street had a unique and exciting space, adaptable to a large and varied audience.
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MAMA JAM
Here's what Montreal's alternative press, The Mirror, had to say about Roy Street's yearly Mother's Day event, Mama Jam -
"Mom's the word this week (the big day is Sunday, need you be reminded) and the Roy Street Collective is all over it. The seven-or-so member art group have highjacked and recreated the commercial holiday inviting several dozen artist friends over to their ever evolving space (111 Roy E.) to act, dance, swing from the ceiling on long tissus and bang out tunes on recycled instruments among paintings, sculptures and a slew of un - Hallmark greetings and crafts for sale. In true Roy Street fashion, Mama Jam promises to be a colourful opening event. The collective was born four years ago in a former fish market fashioned into an architecture firm, home and art space. It caught people's eye and has taken on a life of its own. "This place is all about the space," explains member Louise Markus. "It's not a white-wall gallery. We've taken a kind of feminine approach: lay back, do and wait and the magic will happen. We're just the facilitators. "Necessity is the mother of invention, as goes the saying, and Markus couldn't agree more. "Things have been really dusty around here lately," she says. "You know, constant renovations and everything. I've got a very inventive mind at this point" For cool gifts for Ma, check out the Mama Jam Art Market, May 7 - 10, 2-8 pm, May 11, noon - 4 pm, $3."
Matthew Woodley (The Mirror)
"Mom's the word this week (the big day is Sunday, need you be reminded) and the Roy Street Collective is all over it. The seven-or-so member art group have highjacked and recreated the commercial holiday inviting several dozen artist friends over to their ever evolving space (111 Roy E.) to act, dance, swing from the ceiling on long tissus and bang out tunes on recycled instruments among paintings, sculptures and a slew of un - Hallmark greetings and crafts for sale. In true Roy Street fashion, Mama Jam promises to be a colourful opening event. The collective was born four years ago in a former fish market fashioned into an architecture firm, home and art space. It caught people's eye and has taken on a life of its own. "This place is all about the space," explains member Louise Markus. "It's not a white-wall gallery. We've taken a kind of feminine approach: lay back, do and wait and the magic will happen. We're just the facilitators. "Necessity is the mother of invention, as goes the saying, and Markus couldn't agree more. "Things have been really dusty around here lately," she says. "You know, constant renovations and everything. I've got a very inventive mind at this point" For cool gifts for Ma, check out the Mama Jam Art Market, May 7 - 10, 2-8 pm, May 11, noon - 4 pm, $3."
Matthew Woodley (The Mirror)
A 2002 Mama Jam invite has a cartoon byJai Granofsky.
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A Michael Hopkins painting and a 10' x 12' wall canvas by Louise Markus and Allison Katz.
Comic book artist Jai Granofsky's Mother's Day card.
Choreographer Tracy McNeil's comment on the mother/housewife role.
BATS
Halloween is Montreal's autumn version of Mardi Gras. Roy Street Collective collaborated with local circus troupe Carnival Carmagnole to produce "Bat's" a Halloween extravaganza of circus, cabaret and art.
The Montreal Mirror captures the spirit of the event -
" Is it a bird, a plane, a vernissage, a rave, a cabaret a renegade art event in the heart of the Plateau? Damn right, it’s all this and more! Okay, maybe not a bird or a plane, but this Friday, the Roy Street Art Collective will be putting on Bats, a “mad indulgence of epic proportions” at their way-cool space at 111 Roy e. Featuring the work of over 50 local artists, pranksters and dancers, as well as performances from the Rhythm Mercenaries and 70’s retro sensations Estrada - not to mention a cast of circus performers swinging from the ceiling doing some kind of wacky trapeze thing - the Roy Street Collective parties are always unique affairs that attract more people than the space can accommodate. So get there early or get there very late, the action begins at 9 pm, continues till 6 am, and for 10 bucks the organizers are promising a “sexually charged extravaganza.” Just the opportunity to check out the space is worth the price of admission, but if you’re the benevolent type, take comfort in the knowledge that all monies collected will be going to help keep this very worthy non-profit art collective in business. "
Chris Barry (The Mirror)
The Montreal Mirror captures the spirit of the event -
" Is it a bird, a plane, a vernissage, a rave, a cabaret a renegade art event in the heart of the Plateau? Damn right, it’s all this and more! Okay, maybe not a bird or a plane, but this Friday, the Roy Street Art Collective will be putting on Bats, a “mad indulgence of epic proportions” at their way-cool space at 111 Roy e. Featuring the work of over 50 local artists, pranksters and dancers, as well as performances from the Rhythm Mercenaries and 70’s retro sensations Estrada - not to mention a cast of circus performers swinging from the ceiling doing some kind of wacky trapeze thing - the Roy Street Collective parties are always unique affairs that attract more people than the space can accommodate. So get there early or get there very late, the action begins at 9 pm, continues till 6 am, and for 10 bucks the organizers are promising a “sexually charged extravaganza.” Just the opportunity to check out the space is worth the price of admission, but if you’re the benevolent type, take comfort in the knowledge that all monies collected will be going to help keep this very worthy non-profit art collective in business. "
Chris Barry (The Mirror)
Silk Sreen artist Jesse Purcell created Roy Street Collective's special edition "Bat's" invitation.
Halloweeners closed open eyes give the creeps.
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The "Bats" cabaret troupe prepares backstage and comes out flapping!
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The "Bats" showcase window was created by set decorator Jennifer Small.
TABARNACLE!
Another Roy Street Collective yearly event is "Tabernacle!" a multimedia architecture event in colloboration with Les Journées de la Culture Montreal's open door cultural weekend. The following exerpt from McGill University's newspaper explains the origins of the event's title -
"Seminal art group the Roy Street Collective's high-octane new show "Tabernacle!" proves they are "the next best thing"; it is apocalyptical, visceral contemplation of the fragility of the human condition in an epic Wes Andersonesque deconstruction of cultural hegemony that's edgier than James Earl Jones (not really). No, the title of the exhibition, "Tabernacle!" is not a reference to a favorite French-Canadaian curse word. Grant Genova, Co-founder of the Roy Street Collective, assures those curious about the title's origin that the roots lie in Judeo-Christian mythology, It is derived from the first shelter the Jews found as they crossed the desert, as described in the Old Testament. As part of Quebec's Journées de la Culture programming, every year "Tabernacle!" brings together visual art, sculpture, and found art unified by a concern with the meaning of home, and architecture."
Devin McDougall McGill Daily
"Seminal art group the Roy Street Collective's high-octane new show "Tabernacle!" proves they are "the next best thing"; it is apocalyptical, visceral contemplation of the fragility of the human condition in an epic Wes Andersonesque deconstruction of cultural hegemony that's edgier than James Earl Jones (not really). No, the title of the exhibition, "Tabernacle!" is not a reference to a favorite French-Canadaian curse word. Grant Genova, Co-founder of the Roy Street Collective, assures those curious about the title's origin that the roots lie in Judeo-Christian mythology, It is derived from the first shelter the Jews found as they crossed the desert, as described in the Old Testament. As part of Quebec's Journées de la Culture programming, every year "Tabernacle!" brings together visual art, sculpture, and found art unified by a concern with the meaning of home, and architecture."
Devin McDougall McGill Daily
A "Tabernacle!" invite.
Part of the "Tabernacle!" art exhibit.
Poet, artist and underground film artist Peter Brawley's archeotoys.
A wine cork chair.
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Workshop participants have fun with the tensegrity.
Roy Street Collective invents architectural dance.
THE ROY STREET COLLECTIVE ARTIST MARKET
Roy Street Collective holds various artist markets throught out the year where anything from paintings, prints, jewellery, creams, mosaics, clothing and ceramics can be bought. Roy Street Collective has no funding and struggles to stay alive through commercial sales.
The summer artist market with mosaicist Maria Modicamore's mocais mirrors.
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The Christmas installation in the Roy Street display window.
