Montreal-born artist and architect Melvin Charney, who earned a B.Arch. from McGill in 1958 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University in 2009, passed away on Monday, Sept. 17. He is mourned by his wife Ann, daughter Dara, son-in-law Cameron McKenzie, grandchildren Rachel and Samuel McKenzie, brothers Morris and Israel, and their partners Carrie Gross and Christianne Charette, as well as by numerous friends and colleagues in the world of art and architecture.
Combining both of those passions, Charney inspired discussions on the nature of the urban landscape and the connection between the notion of site and physical location dynamic with his site-specific installations, drawings, montages and texts. Best known for a series of large-scale installations including Les maisons de la rue Sherbrooke (1976) and A Chicago Construction (1982), Charney was appointed Chevalier of the Ordre national du Québec in 2003, for his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the growth of Quebec. In 2006, he was named Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the highest honour bestowed by the French government for individual contribution to culture.
Funeral service information can be found here.
Larger than life…….how come this is happening? …our greatest professor, mentor,…je suis dévastée.
I am very sorry to hear about Mel. My condolences to Ann and Dara and family. Alison