Heart and Soul – Quebec Folk Art
Fun-Loving – Over the Top!

Quebecers enjoy social events, both public and private. They love to play and have fun, and throw themselves into traditional pleasures, as well as less conventional pursuits.

 Fun-Loving
When I am alone in my windowless studio, I am alone with myself; I dive into my memories and discover wonderful moments. And this is what is expressed through my hands: a sharing of my experiences. At home, surrounded by my creations, I feel like I live with a whole gang of people.
Michel Fedak
For me, every day is almost like a celebration. It doesn’t matter what I do — even when I do nothing at all.
Jacqueline Tremblay
 Over the Top!
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.
Clémence Lessard
I’m a guy who pursues a goal, and I know I’ll reach it. I’m a guy . . . how can I put this . . . who’s pretty extravagant in everything.
Michel Villeneuve
Let the Games Begin!

Folk artists enjoy depicting Quebec sports and games, highlighting activities which have had, and still have an impact on their everyday lives.

Gallery
Let the Games Begin!
Folk artists enjoy depicting Quebec sports and games, highlighting activities which have had, and still have an impact on their everyday lives.
  • Fiddler - 2002.125.1053 - IMG2008-0080-0011-Dm
    Fiddler
    Adélard Turgeon (1883–1968)
    Saint-Anselme, Chaudière-Appalaches
    First half of the 20th century
    Painted wood
    Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
    CMCC 2002.125.1053

    Nettie Covey Sharpe acquired this piece from the artist in 1968.
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0011-Dm

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  • Goldorak - 87-100 - IMG2008-0080-0109-Dm
    Goldorak
    Elphège Valois (born in 1894)
    Victoriaville, Central Quebec
    1979
    Wood, cowhide
    CMCC 87-100

    Elphège Valois made numerous miniatures of old-fashioned cars. In this case, to please his grandson, he created a character from television.
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0109-Dm
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  • The Gaston Bergeron Circus - 88-11 - IMG2009-0063-0080-Dm
    The Gaston Bergeron Circus
    Gaston Bergeron (born in 1922)
    Laval
    Third quarter of the 20th century
    Painted wood, metal
    CMCC 88-11
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2009-0063-0080-Dm
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  • Blue Bonnets Racetrack - 77-558 - IMG2008-0080-0006-Dm
    Les Courses Bleu Bonnets (Blue Bonnets Racetrack)
    Hooked Rug
    Maria Laplante Joyal (1901–1986)
    Saint-Louis, Montérégie
    Fabric on burlap
    Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
    CMCC 77-558
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0006-Dm
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  • Fisherman with Line - 77-465 - IMG2008-0080-0133-Dm
    Fisherman with Line
    Whirligig
    Joseph Lajoie (born in 1894)
    Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon, Lanaudière
    Ca. 1975
    Painted wood, metal
    Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
    CMCC 77-465
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0133-Dm
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  • Orchestra - 90-260 - IMG2008-0080-0111-Dm
    Orchestra
    Félicien Lévesque (1916–1997)
    Cacouna, Lower St. Lawrence
    Ca. 1980
    Painted wood, fabric, metal
    CMCC 90-260
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0111-Dm
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  • Fiddler - 2002.125.1053 - IMG2008-0080-0011-Dm
  • Goldorak - 87-100 - IMG2008-0080-0109-Dm
  • The Gaston Bergeron Circus - 88-11 - IMG2009-0063-0080-Dm
  • Blue Bonnets Racetrack - 77-558 - IMG2008-0080-0006-Dm
  • Fisherman with Line - 77-465 - IMG2008-0080-0133-Dm
  • Orchestra - 90-260 - IMG2008-0080-0111-Dm


Just for Laughs!
Everything is worth a laugh, especially if the behaviour is extravagant or taken to extremes. Hunting and fishing outings are great events for raising a friendly glass!
  • Road Grader - 74-1047 - IMG2008-0080-0003-Dm
    Road Grader
    Raymond Beaudin (1908–1974)
    Havelock, Montérégie
    1973
    Metal, wood
    Gift of Jean St-Cyr
    CMCC 74-1047

    During his retirement, Raymond Beaudin entertained himself by creating works of art and decorating his environment (house, floors, wayside crosses) with beer-bottle caps, which were brought to him by the truckload. He stopped counting the bottle caps when he reached seven million.
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0003-Dm

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  • Hooked Rug - 82-142 - IMG2008-0080-0106-Dm
    Hooked Rug
    Adèle Imbeault-Lapointe
    Charlevoix region
    1970–1982
    Fabric and cotton on jute canvas
    CMCC 82-142
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0106-Dm
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  • Carriage - 90-259 - IMG2008-0080-0110-Dm
    Carriage
    Félicien Lévesque (1916–1997)
    Cacouna, Lower St. Lawrence
    1980s
    Painted wood, metal, cotton, leather
    CMCC 90-259
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0110-Dm
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  • Morning Exercise - 77-973 - IMG2008-0080-0007-Dm
    Morning Exercise
    Oscar Héon (1901–1976)
    Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Mauricie
    1960s–1970s
    Painted wood
    Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
    CMCC 77-973

    According to Nettie Covey Sharpe, the artist drew his inspiration from what he saw on television: modern young mothers exercising in front of the small screen, while also toilet training a toddler.
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0007-Dm
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  • Whirligigs - 2002.125.1125, 2002.125.323 - IMG2008-0080-0012-Dm
    Whirligigs
    Jean-Baptiste Côté (1832–1907)
    Quebec City
    Second half of the 19th century
    Painted wood, metal
    Bequest of the Nettie Covey Sharpe Estate
    CMCC 2002.125.1125 and 2002.125.323

    Jean-Baptiste Côté produced caricatures for the newspapers of his day. He was also a fine carver. These two whirligigs, which are attributed to him, were created to poke fun at the fickleness of politicians.
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0012-Dm
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  • Road Grader - 74-1047 - IMG2008-0080-0003-Dm
  • Hooked Rug - 82-142 - IMG2008-0080-0106-Dm
  • Carriage - 90-259 - IMG2008-0080-0110-Dm
  • Morning Exercise - 77-973 - IMG2008-0080-0007-Dm
  • Whirligigs - 2002.125.1125, 2002.125.323 - IMG2008-0080-0012-Dm


Over the Top!
Artists have a burning need for self-expression: a need which often results in an excess of creativity.
  • Human Pyramid  - 91-108 - IMG2008-0080-0134-Dm
    Human Pyramid
    Léo Fournier (born in 1927)
    Laprairie, Montérégie
    Ca. 1980
    Painted wood
    Nettie Covey Sharpe Collection
    CMCC 91-108
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0134-Dm

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  • Kitchen Recipe - 95-4 - IMG2008-0080-0004-Dm
    Kitchen Recipe
    Luc Guérard (born in 1950)
    Montreal
    1993
    Painted wood
    CMCC 95-4

    This work is a “door into the world of the imagination, without hidden themes.”
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0004-Dm
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  • The Minerals of the Klondike - 85-395 - S95-25523
    “The Minerals of the Klondike on Canadian Soil”
    Georges Bédard (born in 1912)
    Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Laurentians
    1980s
    Acrylic paint and sand on plywood
    CMCC 85-395
    CMCC S95-25523
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  • Canada’s Volcanoes - 85-375 - IMG2009-0169-0001-Dm
    “Canada’s Volcanoes”
    Georges Bédard (born in 1912)
    Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Laurentians
    1980s
    Acrylic paint, sand, shells on plywood
    CMCC 85-375
    Harry Foster
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  • Canada’s Great Treasures - 85-396 - IMG2009-0169-0002-Dm
    “Searching for Canada’s Great Treasures”
    Georges Bédard (born in 1912)
    Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Laurentians
    Ca. 1980
    Wood, acrylic paint, shells, gravel
    CMCC 85-396
    Harry Foster
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  • Mount Everest - 85-325 - IMG2008-0080-0107-Dm
    Mount Everest
    Georges Bédard (born in 1912)
    Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Laurentides
    1980s
    Acrylic paint and sand on wood
    CMCC 85-325
    Marie-Louise Deruaz
    CMCC IMG2008-0080-0107-Dm
    Next >
  • Human Pyramid  - 91-108 - IMG2008-0080-0134-Dm
  • Kitchen Recipe - 95-4 - IMG2008-0080-0004-Dm
  • The Minerals of the Klondike - 85-395 - S95-25523
  • Canada’s Volcanoes - 85-375 - IMG2009-0169-0001-Dm
  • Canada’s Great Treasures - 85-396 - IMG2009-0169-0002-Dm
  • Mount Everest - 85-325 - IMG2008-0080-0107-Dm