Rooted – Diverse
The roots of Quebec artists run deep. This sense of place reflects their many origins, whether related to the physical environment, their cultural roots or their life experiences.
Rooted
“My motto is: 'Enjoy life, while never forgetting the past.'”
Fleurette Solomon
“I am from the Beauce region — I am a Beaceronne. I worked in Montreal for many years, but my roots are here. I will always be a Beauceronne. It will always be a part of me. My way of thinking is Beauceronne, even though I've found much to admire elsewhere.”
Clémence Lessard
Diverse
“I don't travel, but you could almost say that the entire world has come here. My niece went to Africa and married a Muslim. When he came here, we cooked differently. It opened us up a lot. And when I make masks, I take my inspiration from African masks. My son adopted a little Chinese girl, so I include her in my paintings. ”
Jacqueline Tremblay
“My father was Polish. I had a name, Fedak, which was considered English by francophones and French by anglophones. When I was with my francophone friends, I was the anglo in the gang; and when I was with anglophones, it was the opposite. I never really belonged to any group. It was hard sometimes, but as I became more educated, my horizons broadened. ”
Michel Fedak
Gallery
The Art of Symbols
Beavers and maple leaves are often found in works of folk art. Before they were adopted throughout the country, these symbols were largely associated with French Canada. The symbols of various homelands were also widely used: the fleur-de-lys for France, the lion for England, the thistle for Scotland, and the shamrock for Ireland.
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Stationery Chest
Found in Saint-Lin, L’Assomption County
Mid-19th century
Wood, metal
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.677 a–b
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0140-Dm
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Chest
“E. Lafortune”
Found in Lanoraie, Lanaudière
Mid-19th century
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.345
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0139-Dm
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Beaver and Maple Leaves
Hooked Rug
1967
Wool, cotton on jute
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 77-555
This hooked rug was created to celebrate Expo 67 in Montreal.
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Butter Stamp
19th century
Maple
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 77-1237
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Clover and Horses Hooked Rug
Early 20th century
Cloth, wool on jute
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 77-578
Nature Comes to Life
Representations of animals, birds and fish abound in the work of many folk artists. Sometimes a bird is so lifelike that it actually appears to be in flight. Sometimes the animal's form is fairly rough, although it can still be identified.
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Skunks and Porcupine
Left to right:
Skunk
Magella Normand (1921–2000)
Cap-aux-Os, Gaspé
Painted wood, metal
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.253
Skunk
Louis Boucher (1921 or 1925–1974)
Drummondville
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.140
Porcupine
Magella Normand (1921–2000)
Cap-aux-Os, Gaspé
Painted wood, metal
Gift of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.520
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0136-Dm
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Moose
Front, left to right:
Philippe Roy (1899–1982)
Saint-Philémon, Chaudière-Appalaches
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.869
Herbert Tomlinson
Saint-Raymond, Portneuf
Ca. 1950
Painted wood
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 77-963
Joseph-Arthur Bouchard (born in 1930)
Baie-Saint-Paul, Charlevoix
1984
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.59
Back:
Alcide Saint-Germain (born in 1911)
Saint-Antoine-Abbé, Huntingdon
1971
Painted wood
CMCC 74-813
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0013-Dm
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Birds
Damase Richard (1852–1922)
Saint-Ubalde, Portneuf
Late 19th–early 20th century
Painted wood
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection and Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
Left to right: CMCC 2002.125.351, 91-87, 91-88, 91-89
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0129-Dm
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Birds
Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Coté
Late 19th–early 20th century
Painted wood
Left to right: CMCC 2002.125.1151, 2002.125.980 and 2002.125.907
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0130-Dm
2009-H0015.1.3.1.8
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Owl
Damase Richard (1852–1922)
Saint-Ubalde, Portneuf
1905–1915
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.349
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0123-Dm
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Trout
A. Duranceau
Laprairie, Montérégie
Ca. 1950
Copper, glass
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 77-945
Weathervane on a ventilation hood
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0135-Dm
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Hide-Stretcher
Unknown Aboriginal Artist
Found in the Eastern Townships
19th century
Wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.274
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0119-Dm
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Reindeer
Philippe Roy (1899–1982)
Saint-Philémon, Chaudière-Appalaches
Early 1950s
Painted wood, metal, glass
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 91-104 and 105
He had these reindeer in his nativity scene. Look how delicate and how beautiful they are . . . and the antlers, he’s taken tin and cut them out and painted them. You’re so surprised when you see the man because . . . he’s such a strongly built man with big hands, and yet he does such delicate work, such fine work. He’s created so many beautiful pieces of folk art. — Nettie Covey Sharpe
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0009-Dm
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Mourning Dove in Nest
Damase Rhéaume (1832–1903)
Baie-Saint-Paul, Charlevoix
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.608
Wendy Tilley
CMCC S2003-3652
2009-H0015.1.3.1.8
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Tree with Birds
Painted wood, metal
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.
Wendy Tilley
CMCC D2004-02810
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Tree with Butterfly
Lauda Parent (1890–1977)
Gatineau, Templeton area, Ottawa River Valley.
Wood, metal, paper
CMCC 71-1035
I Remember
Conscious of their history, folk artists often depict the trades they've plied, or ways of life they once knew.
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Log Drivers in CanoeLauda Parent (1890–1977)
Gatineau, Templeton area, Ottawa River Valley
1940–1960
Wood, metal, paper, plastic
CMCC 71-1021
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0105-Dm
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Town Crier Alfred Lebert and Schoolmistress Frisine LebertOlivier Lefebvre
Laprairie, Montérégie
First half of the 20th century
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.25 and 2002.125.33
Alfred Lebert, Laprairie’s town crier, was married to Frisine, a schoolmistress.
Mr. Lefebvre use to tell me lovely stories about these people. They lived during the final quarter of the nineteenth century. He remembered them from his youth.
— Nettie Covey Sharpe
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0005-Dm
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Toy Horse and CartJosephat Lafrance
Varennes, Montérégie
Late 19th century
Painted wood, horsehair, metal, leather
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.210 a–b
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0116-Dm
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Baking Bread Léo Fournier (born in 1927)
Laprairie, Montérégie
Ca. 2000
Painted wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.222
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0125-Dm
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The Nord GaspéElzéar Roy
Pointe-Frégate, Gaspé-Nord
1971
Painted wood, metal
CMCC 76-249
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“It’s a Log Drive My Friends, It Floats”
Hooked Rug
Maria Laplante Joyal (1900–1986)
Saint-Louis, Montérégie
1970–1983
Cotton on jute
Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
CMCC 83-970
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Hooked RugNoé J. Champagne (born in 1919)
Dudswell-Bishopton, Eastern Townships
1979–1980
Cotton, synthetic fibre, jute
CMCC 80-655
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2009-0160-0006-Dm
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The Serpent of Lorette19th century
Wood
Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
CMCC 2002.125.382 a–b
This box was likely inspired by the Aboriginal legend of the Great Serpent of Lorette. A snake pops up and “bites” whoever slides out the tongue that fastens the box.
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0112-Dm
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