Fleurette Solomon
Born on April 1, 1929 in Navan (near Ottawa), the youngest of five children.
Married at 16 and gave birth to eight children, two of whom died of cystic fibrosis, a little-known disease at the time.
While caring for her youngest daughter, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, found working in clay to be a welcome relief, and built an entire rural village made of clay.
Also sculpted figures representing trades of the past; demand for these increased as people began to see themselves in the figures.
Her favourite character: The Thinker, representing the autumn of life.
Her motto: "Enjoy life, with a consciousness of the past."
Video of Fleurette Solomon
Cystic Fibrosis
“I had eight children, but cystic fibrosis claimed two of them: a baby who died at five months, and my daughter Sandra, who died at 28. I gave her as many as seven treatments, day and night, to try to keep her with me. I had her for 28 years, but it wasn't enough. When I watched over her at night, I used to distract myself by making lace, macramé — everything imaginable — before finally discovering clay. I began playing with it, and grew to love the material because it was an escape for me.”
Real People
“I use real people as my models. It started with my grandfather, Louis, who came from Navan. I also had many uncles who worked on the farm, and I ended up portraying them all. When I display these figures, people say to me, 'Good heavens, you have a good imagination!' I say to them, 'No, I haven't. I just reproduce what already exists by mining my past!'”
Perseverance
“When you love something, you can't be half-hearted about it; you have to stick with it until it's perfect. I've done that with all my pieces. Often you may slide down a hill three times before you can make your way to the top. To earn the right to be called a sculptor, you have to study. I personally never studied at all to do what I do. I've read books and worked for hours, but I've mostly done it to please myself. I've just been lucky that people like it. I really don't think of myself as being better than I actually am.”
Fleurette Solomon
Gallery of Fleurette Solomon
-
Fleurette on her sister Germaine's lap, at the age of seven months.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection}
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.2
Next >
-
Fleurette at the age of four.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.3
Next >
-
Fleurette at the age of fifteen, 1944.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.4
Next >
-
Fleurette and Conrad when they were dating, ca. 1945. They would later marry.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.5
Next >
-
Fleurette and Conrad were married on September 24, 1945.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.6
Next >
-
Fleurette, on the left, with singer Michel Louvain and Sandra: one of Fleurette's daughters who suffered from cystic fibrosis. The picture was taken after a benefit performance for the disease at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, ca. 1980.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.7
Next >
-
Fleurette and her husband Conrad in 1998.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.8
Next >
-
Fleurette with one of her clay sculptures.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2006
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.9
Next >
-
The Clown
1981
Terracotta
Collection of the Artist
"Life confronted me with the painful realities of cystic fibrosis. People often said to me, 'I'd love to be like you, always smiling.' One night, sitting listening to my daughter coughing, I wrote this poem:
The appearances are not always what they seem;
I am on a rotating world and must not lose my balance.
My clothes represent the styles of a lifetime;
The buttons with no button holes, the complications.
We must always have a smile even if at times, we would like to die.
If I can keep my balance and arrive at autumn of life with the wind in my hair;
I can tell you, I am not a clown but a sentiment.
The following morning, I created this clown."
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0075-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village
Between 1980 and 1990
Fired clay
CMCC 94-756
Unable to sleep as she watched over her daughter, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, Fleurette Solomon decided to sculpt a rural village made of clay. She was thus able to forget the present, and take comfort in looking to the past.
Steven Darby
CMCC IMG2008-0051-0001-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village (Detail)
Exterior of the saloon, with a view of the interior.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0186-0005-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village (Detail)
Interior view of the saloon.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0186-0004-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village (Detail)
Interior view of the general store
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0186-0009-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village (Detail)
Interior view of the home of Dr. J. Lavergne.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0186-0007-Dm
Next >
-
Pioneer Village (Detail)
Interior view of the G. Cléroux inn.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0186-0006-Dm
Next >
-
Men Playing CheckersTerracotta
Collection of the Artist
Jean-François Blanchette, 2006
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.17
Next >
-
The Dreamer
Terracotta
Collection of the Artist
Photo de la collection de Martin Bouchard
Archives, SMCC
2009-H0015.1.3.1.8
Next >
-
The Pipe SmokerTerracotta
Collection of the Artist
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.19
Next >
-
The ArtistTerracotta
Collection of the Artist
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.20
Next >
-
Happy Couple in the Autumn of Life
Terracotta
Collection of the Artist
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.21
Next >
-
The Musicians
Terracotta
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.22
Next >
-
In the Autumn of Life
Fleurette Solomon (born in 1929)
Gatineau, Ottawa River Valley
Ca. 1990
Collage: watercolour and paper on cardboard
"I am not a painter; I simply play with colour."
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.23
Next >
-
Fleurette Solomon sculpts a figure in clay, ca. 1987.
Photo from Fleurette Solomon's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.24
Next >
-
Fleurette sculpts a character in 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.25
Next >
-
Fleurette sculpts a character in 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.26
Next >
-
Fleurette sculpts a character in 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.27
Next >
-
Fleurette sculpts a character in 2007.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.5.28
Next >
