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French Storyteller Creates Audio Work For Forges Du Saint-Maurice

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By NPT Staff - February 18th, 2021

Quebec artist Fred Pellerin created a new audio work for Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site.

Quebec artist Fred Pellerin created an exclusive new audio work for Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site in Quebec/Parks Canada

Parks Canada is collaborating with iconic Quebec storyteller Fred Pellerin to offer a new audio path this summer at the Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site.

Diabolus ex machina is an exclusive work created by, and narrated mainly by, the region's world-renowned artist. Inspired by the rich folklore associated with the Forges, the work consists of 14 sound capsules presented as a mockumentary. This 75-minute outdoor walk will allow visitors to enter the historical and legendary world of the Forges and to discover the site through the playful lenses of Pellerin.

“There was a steady flow of legends at the Forges,” said Pellerin in a news release. “At one time, there was enough chatter to practically cause traffic jams.”

The title of the work was chosen by Pellerin, who drew his inspiration from archives and folklore surrounding the Forges. It’s a derivative of the Latin phrase Deus ex machina (God from the machine). In theatre, it refers to the process by which gods are introduced on stage. For Pellerin, the title sets the tone for the mysterious nature of his audio work while bearing witness to the solid historical foundations of his artistic approach.

It will be accessible directly on visitors’ smartphones or on handheld devices available at the site.

Forges du Saint-Maurice is a national historic site in Quebec.

Forges du Saint-Maurice is a national historic site in Quebec/TQ/Linda Turgeon

This novelty is part of the 1600°C: trial by fire immersive experience announced last December, which will allow visitors to experience the hard work of the blast furnace workers through a new digital technology. Designed as a game, 1600°C Trial by Fire was named for the temperature The choice of 1600 degrees refers to the temperature that must be reached while forging cast iron. The audio path asks people to accomplish six tasks, including using motion sensors to activate characters on screen, following the direction of the master founder and trying to perform all the steps of the cast iron manufacturing process and see if they will be hired.

Other investments are planned at the site and will be announced later this year.

“The Parks Canada Agency is proud to contribute to our country's world-class tourism offer,” François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and MP for Saint-Maurice—Champlain, said in a news release. “Parks Canada contributes to the vitality of local tourism by showcasing the exceptional quality of regional artistic talent and the unique history of La Mauricie.”

The national historic site is open from the weekend before Saint Jean-Baptiste Day in June until Labour Day. It’s in the Maurice region near Trois-Rivières, between Montreal and Quebec City. The ironworks was built near a source of iron ore and operated from 1730 to 1883 for military and domestic needs while the fur trade, logging and agriculture ruled the economy. It turned out iron for shipyards and royal arsenals and then for Canadian railways.

Given the rapidly changing Covid-19 situation, the Forges will re-evaluate its programming in June in light of the recommendations of public health experts.

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