Tin house – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
Transcript of Tin house – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
[Signature of Canadian Heritage]
Narrator: “This capsule is presented by Canadian Heritage
[People walking in a courtyard in front of Tin house]
Narrator: “Originally a fairly well-to-do home, built in the 1860s on Guigues Avenue, a street near here, the impressive Tin House is the work of Honoré Foisy. A second-generation tinsmith who lived in the house for about 10 years in the early 1900s.”
[The second story balcony and windows of the facade]
Narrator: “He spent several years completing this work, which brought instant advertising for his tinsmithing business, and became an attraction in Ottawa’s Lowertown.”
[Facade of Tin house]
Narrator: “Foisy’s talent is undeniable. He worked patiently to cover, stamp and press sheet metal onto the rosettes, pediments, turned wooden posts and other architectural details that were typical of houses built during that period.”
[Detailed architectural metal work]
Narrator: “The house eventually fell into disrepair, and had to be demolished when it was about 100 years old. Fortunately, its tin facade was saved and kept in storage — under conditions that were less than ideal, however.”
[Pieces of the tin facade stored outside]
Narrator: “After some 10 years or so, Ottawa artist and sculptor Art Price came to the rescue to restore and remodel Foisy’s work.”
[Photos of pieces of the original metal work stored outside]
Narrator: “With the skill and precision of a surgeon, Price replaced close to 90 percent of the many pieces of original metal, re-creating them with the help of photos taken of the Foisy house and vestiges that remained on the site.”
“He also used pieces from other buildings. When Price was finished, the work had become an impressive, life-sized bas-relief.”
[Facade of Tin house re-created in the Sussex courtyard, showing rust]
Narrator: “From the time of its installation on this wall in 1973, the Tin House once again became a popular attraction. The fact that the courtyard is named after this work attests to its popularity.”
“In the early 2000s, this popular work again underwent major restoration. The effects of oxidation over many years had caused the metal to rust, and so the Tin House was given a third lease on life.”
[Façade of Tin house after restoration. A couple sitting at the fountain in the Sussex courtyard in front of Tin house light-up at night]
Narrator: “Today, it’s a sight that charms and delights visitors, as they discover one of the most popular of the Sussex Courtyards.”
[Canada wordmark]
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