A multi-sensory homage to creator JR Carpenter’s old Montreal neighborhood and the people she came to know while living there, Entre Ville was published in 2006, though fragments of the work had been compiled as early as 1992. It is chiefly a display of poetry, though there are many aspects that bring her words to life, allowing us to step into her place and relive the memories of her neighborhood through her eyes.

The interface of Entre Ville consists of a central notebook, on which Carpenter’s poems and drawings of the neighborhood can be seen. Surrounding the notebook are photos and icons. By clicking on these photos, icons, and various pieces of the drawing, users open new windows containing videos, which capture the sights, sounds, and “texture” of her neighborhood. Though all of the visual aspects contribute to the experience, the videos especially help users form a full, enriching perception of the imagery presented in the poems.

In describing her inspiration to create the piece, Carpenter explains, “My home office window opens into a jumbled intimacy of back balconies, yards, gardens and alleyways. Daily my dog and I walk through this interior city sniffing out stories.” These daily interactions with neighbors inspired two poems, “Saint Urbain Street Heat” and “Sniffing for Stories”, which provide a thematic foundation for the entire work.* Accompanying many videos are specific lines of the poems, so users know exactly what they are seeing and how they are meant to feel about it through identification with the author.