Clémence Lessard
Born on June 25, 1935 on a farm in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, the ninth of 14 children.
Entered a convent in 1955 to study teaching, moving to Rosemont (Montreal East) in 1958 for a teaching position she held until retiring in 1995.
Enrolled in a sculpture class at the Université du Québec à Montréal in 1974
Sculpted late into the night and taught during the day.
Upon retirement, returned to the Beauce to pursue her art.
Videos of Clémence Lessard
Personal Style
“When I was young, I followed my father around the house. That was how I learned the basics of woodworking. My first large sculpture was a hand with a branch running across it. I enrolled in sculpture courses at the Université du Québec à Montréal in 1974, but the professor rejected me because I had already developed my own technique.”
Passion
“In my first year of sculpting, I made 60 pieces. I worked at it day and night. I would teach in the morning, and I slept only two hours a night. I loved it. I am passionate — in other words, incapable of stopping.”
Teaching
“I had an unusual way of teaching. French, mathematics or geography — I always started with a visual arts workshop related to the subject I was teaching. Then we would expand upon it. Instead of only using books, I worked on areas of interest. The interactive educational methods they talk about in the Parent Report come from what went on in my class. I was doing things outside the norm, compared with what they did in other schools.”
Religious Teaching
“You have to relate religious teaching to what children actually experience, in order to make it relevant. It isn't like it used to be, when you spent all day praying. Our activities are more fun these days: visual arts, plays. But I'm still doing things differently. I open the Bible and read one of the gospels to the children. Then I close it and say to them: 'Now I'm going to tell you the same story, but the way it would happen today in Beauce.'”
Clémence Lessard
Gallery of Clémence Lessard
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Clémence, seventh from the left, is seen here with her brothers and sisters on the family property, ca. 1940. Other siblings would come later.
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.2
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Clémence with her students during an outdoor class, 1983
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.3
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Clémence's sixth-grade students in Montreal display their creativity, 1982.
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.4
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Outdoor activity with Val Morin youths during the 1988 holiday season.
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.5
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Clémence in 1982.
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.6
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A surprise for Clémence, who likes to play practical jokes — New Year's Day, 2006.
Photo from Clémence Lessard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.7
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Clémence with the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce church in the background.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.8
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The Good Shepherd
Ca. 2000
Oil on bark
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0037-Dm
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Unaborted Children
1986
Oil on canvas
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0038-Dm
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Joy
Self-portrait
Ca. 1990
Painted bas-relief
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0039-Dm
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It's Time to Laugh
1982
Painted wood
The artist created this work after recovering from a bout of tendinitis, which had prevented her from sculpting.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0071-Dm
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The Bon Vivant
1985 and 2006
Painted wood
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0102-Dm
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The Gardener
1985 and 2006
Painted wood
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0104-Dm
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Clémence with some of her sculptures
Jean-François Blanchette, 2005
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.15
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Clémence next to a totem making a face at her.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.16
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Sculptures at Clémence's home.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.17
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Totem pole at Clémence's home
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.18
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Bird made of pieces from various "recycled sculptures".
Jean-François Blanchette, 2005
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.19
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Drawing
"Lord, I pray for peace and justice to rule in Haiti."
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.20
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.21
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.22
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Drawing
"Take my lollipop and let me live."
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.23
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Drawing
"Hell's"
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.24
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.25
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Drawing
Words on the feathers, top to bottom:
"Pour homme de plume (For a man of letters)
Pour lit de plume (For a feather bed)
Pour oreiller (For a pillow)
Pour guerre de plume (For a war of words)
Plume au vent (A feather in the wind)
Plume d'acier (A quill of steel)."
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.26
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.27
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.28
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Drawing
"To each his own (food)"
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.29
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Drawing
Clémence Lessard
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.30
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Clémence Lessard carving a totem in August 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.31
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Clémence Lessard repairing a wooden sculpture, 2005.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2005
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.32
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Clémence Lessard repairing a wooden sculpture, 2005.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2005
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.33
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Clémence Lessard carving an animal, 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.34
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Clémence Lessard carving an animal, 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.35
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Clémence Lessard shaping a bird with an electric jigsaw, 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.36
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Clémence Lessard beginning work on a totem pole.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.3.37
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