ARTISTIC MOTIVATION: | ||
“It was with my grandmother, a seamstress, that I experimented with drawing, on the same blackboard where she drew the models for her clients. On a stormy day, held in the convent, influenced by the artistic performance of a friend, painting captivated me. Therefore, it was impossible to escape this grip. Since 1984, always in search of truth, I join a group of painters, who like me, worked according to the gestural approach. This approach of Brother Jerome, promotes the emergence of intuition and creativity by going to the discovery of the inner self, letting emotions pass through the gesture, without preconceived intention of form or color, resulting in nothing else than self-expression. In this way, it is easy to make oneself available to welcome the creator inside, to discover interiority and creativity. The canvas then becomes a place of exploration.” “In different ways, I look for the common thread that will lead me to the subject. In my early days, I experimented with almost all mediums, watercolor, ink, dry pastel, gouache, oil, charcoal and finally acrylic, a medium that I adopted definitively and to which on occasion I add mixed mediums. I also explored textile sculpture. Whatever medium I use, paper, raw canvas or coated with any medium, I let instinctive creation invade me from which the pictorial language emerges. The woman and the many roles she has been called upon to play for centuries, the love I have for children and the family, all influence my imagination. Beyond doubt, they are my favorite subjects. The elements that make up the painting provide an anecdotal character to the composition. For me, everything is a pretext to tell a story, whether visual or literary.” |
BIOGRAPHY: | ||
Claudette Poirier was born in Saint-Étienne de Beauharnois. It was through a drawing competition in the schools of Beauharnois that her talent as an artist was confirmed. She pursued a career at École Polytechnique de Montréal as an administrative assistant, while devoting herself part-time to her passion. In 1984, she joined a group of painters who practiced in the wake of the workshops of Brother Jérôme, a leading figure in abstract in Quebec, automation, freedom as a pursuit of self. In 1989, she made her first solo. In 1999, she devoted herself entirely to her art.
Since 1995, Claudette Poirier has been involved in the Boards of Directors of the various groups of artists to which she has belonged, as a founding member, secretary, vice-president, and president. Her works have been seen in Quebec and internationally, during symposiums, solo or collective exhibitions with or without selection jury. She is a member of RAAV, Culture Montérégie and Cercle des poètes de la Montérégie. Claudette Poirier has been involved for many years in various groups of visual arts artists such as the « Atelier du Geste » in Montreal where she obtained the organization’s Charter; she is also one of the founding members of the Artishow Group, where she worked for 5 years as the group’s administrative assistant, more particularly during the « Festival des Arts du Village » event in 2002; it is as secretary that she became involved in the AAPARS Board of Directors; later, for ten years, for the Arts visuels Roussillon group, where she held the positions of president, vice-president, and administrator of the Board of Directors. She sits on the Committee for the Implementation of a Cultural Policy in Saint-Constant. More recently as vice-president and secretary of the Cercle des poètes de la Montérégie where she has been a member since 2011. As part of the activities of Arts visuels Roussillon, in 2008, she created the event « Mille mots en images » which brings together the time of an evening, visual artists and poets whose objective is to highlight the vision of each. In 2020, as a project manager at the Cercle des po In March 2010, to highlight the horror that occurred at École Polytechnique, she created, with the participation of various staff and students, a collective work of 5′ x 8′ entitled, « Jamais je n’oublierai le 6 décembre 1989 ». In 2011, on Women’s Day, this work was exhibited at the Speaker’s Room of the House of Commons in Ottawa, in tribute to the victims and in support of the ‘Poly remembers’ bill that fights to ban handguns and campaigns for a gun registry. In December 2010, chosen by the Société nationale des Beaux-arts (SNBA), she was part of one of the two Delegations of Canada and her work « Parfum d’iris » was selected and exhibited at the Salle Le Nôtre of the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. On February 28, 2011, then BLOC MP Carole Freeman paid tribute to her in the House of Commons in Ottawa for her involvement in the arts and her body of work. Her works are part of public and private collections. As a professional artist, she is a member of the R.A.A.V., Culture Montérégie and the Cercle des poètes de la Montérégie. |
BACKGROUND: | ||
Self-taught. | ||
WORKSHOPS: | ||
2017 | Design and production of a 5′ 7” sculpture, « Eugénia », Coaticook, July; | |
2016 | Coaticook Artist’s Residency, project: Métier d’art, peinture et littérature, from July 21 to November 3; | |
2015, 2013 | Writing workshop, Francine Ruel, 40 hours; | |
2014 | The late works of the great painters, Maryse Chevrette, 25 hours; | |
2013 | Significance and hidden meanings of the work of art, Maryse Chevrette, 15 hours; | |
2012 | “Autopsies of masterpieces” Class, Maryse Chevrette, 30 hours; |
2008 | Workshop, Artist’s books, Muriel Faille, 4 days; | |
2008 | Workshop, exploration, creativity with mixed medium, Diane St-Georges, 2 days; | |
2008 | Improved workshop, creativity with mixed medium, Diane St-Georges & Louise Lachance-Legault, 5 days; | |
2007 | C.M.C.C., Artist promoting and distributing her art, 14 hours; | |
2002 | C.M.C.C., Course on Artist Career Management, 30 hours; | |
2002 | Exhibition preparation, 14 hours; | |
2000-99 | AAPARS, Figure Drawing, 45 hours; | |
1991-84 | R. Dubuc Atelier du Geste (Gesture Workshop), Montreal, approx. 90 hrs/year for 8 years. |
EXHIBITIONS AND SYMPOSIUMS: | ||
Since 1985, my works have been seen in exhibitions and symposia throughout Quebec and internationally. | ||
INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS WITH SELECTION: | ||
2018 | Monastir, Monastir Cultural Complex, Tunisia, June 28; | |
2011 | Cannes, Palais des Festivals, Artists of the World, July 18-24; | |
2011 | Vittel, Art’East, France, 29th International Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, July 9-18; | |
2011 | New York, Ward-Nasse Gallery, May; | |
2010 | Carrousel du Louvre, SNBA Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Canadian Delegation, Paris, December 16-19 | |
2005 | International Artist Exhibit exchange: Limoges, Tulles, Guéret, Paris, April-May; | |
2005 | Art&Miss gallery, Paris, ‘Printemps québécois, 2e édition’, France, Europe; | |
2002 | Galeria de arte SALA BARNA – Barcelone, Espagne, Europe. | |
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS WITH SELECTION JURY: | ||
2022 | « Poèmes à la carte », Françoise-Maurice Library, Coaticook, April-May-June; | |
2016 | Artist’s residency, Coaticook, October 28-30, 2016; | |
2015 | Galerie La Seigneurie, Châteauguay Cultural Center, July 2-30; | |
2014 | « Jamais je n’oublierai le 6 décembre 1989 » Cercle des poètes de la Montérégie; | |
2012 | Vaisseau d’Or Library, Saint-Philippe, December 5-20; | |
2010 | St. Pierre Center, Montreal, December; | |
2010 | House of Commons on Parliament Hill, “In celebration of International Women’s Day”, Ottawa, Canada. | |
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS WITH SELECTION: | ||
2021 | Boréart Galery, exhibition of works and poems, MMEI 2020 « Méditation poétique sur les pierres sauvages », June 2-27, ISBN : 978-2-9813346-5-7; | |
2020 | Fall show, MBAMSH, theme ‘Confinement’, November 16-21; | |
2020 | Musée Beaulne, Coatic’Art, Annual Exhibition, July 12 to September 6; | |
2020 | Route des arts, AAVGC, Manoir d’Youville, from September 25 to October 25; | |
2020 | Villa Marguerite, AAVGC, September 19-20-26-27; | |
2020 | Musée Le Pailleur, Châteauguay, « Mémoires de femmes », from March 8, interrupted due to the pandemic on April 6; resumption of the exhibition June 19 to August 16; | |
2019 | Competition Expo, Musée Mont-Saint-Hilaire, theme ‘Light’, October 17 to November 24; | |
2019 | Competition Expo La Prairie, Centre multifonctionnel Guy-Dupré, November 8 to 13; | |
2019 | Competition Expo, Painters Selection, Longueuil, September 27 to October 6; | |
2019 | Journées de la Culture, AAVGC, Centre Hébergement Champlain, September 27-29; | |
2019 | Journées de la Culture, Collectif Prism’art, theme « Bâtir des liens, créer des ponts », Centre Municipal Aimé-Guérin, Sainte-Catherine, September 24-26; | |
2019 | Collectif Prism’Art, Miss Rey Galery, theme « La portée du geste », September 5-15; | |
2019 | AAVGC, Manoir d’Youville, Île Saint-Bernard, Châteauguay, June to September; life-size textile sculpture of « Eugénia » | |
2019 | AAVGC, Bistro La Trappe, June 2019 to September 2020; | |
2019 | La Prairie Historical Society, exhibition of works published in Stéphane Tremblay’s book entitled « Les familles pionnières de la Seigneurie de La Prairie, de 1667-1687 », June 6 to September 30; | |
2019 | ‘Small sizes’ exhibition, Maison Melançon, for the benefit of the Hélène-Sentenne Foundation, June 1st to August 25; | |
2019 | « Petits formats, grand cœur », Guy-Dupré Multifunctional Center, LaPrairie, March 20 to April 14 for the benefit of Complexe Le Partage; | |
2019-18 | Travelling exhibition of the work « Filles à marier », lectures by Stéphane Tremblay, Candiac, Châteauguay Library; | |
2019-16 | Expo Small sizes – big heart, Guy-Dupré Multifunctional Center, La Prairie, March 22 to April 15; |
2018 | Fall Salon, Homage to Global Refusal in 150 variations, Mont-Saint-Hilaire Museum of Fine Arts, October 27 to November 25; | |
2018 | Monastir International Festival of Plastic Arts, Tunisia, creation of « Lanbsp;femme tunisienne », visual work and poem as well as « Ce jour », June 18 to 28; | |
2018 | Brossard Visual Arts Show, textile sculptures exhibition, from April 27 to 29; | |
2017 | Expo, Small sizes, Maison Melançon, Candiac, Nov. 19 to Dec. 10; | |
24 | Expo Small sizes big heart, Guy-Dupré Multifunctional Center, La Prairie; | |
25 | Permanent Expo Sentier des arts, Guy-Dupré Multifunctional Center, La Prairie; | |
26 | Expo, Dosha Gallery, Beloeil, theme: Au Pluriel, March 8-19; | |
27 | Exhibition Fall Home Living, Olympic Park, Montreal, October 22-25; | |
28 | Exhibition 40th Anniversary Heritage Site of La Prairie, Prism’Art Group, August 29-30; | |
29 | Exhibition 6/6 AvR, Carte Blanche Gallery, Montreal, June 1-28; | |
30 | Maison Félix Leclerc exhibition, Vaudreuil, September 27; | |
31 | Exhibition Gallery mp tresart, “Quand la poésie épouse l’art – Illusion décolorée”, Quebec. |
N. B. : Complete list of exhibitions on request | ||
ART GALLERY: | ||
Workshop of the artist, Candiac (Quebec); | ||
Galerie Vand’Art, 5800 Grande Allée, St-Hubert (Quebec), April 2008-2015; | ||
Maison Richelieu, St-Marc-sur-Richelieu (Quebec), June 2005-2012; | ||
Artothèque, Montreal (Quebec), August 2004-2007; | ||
Atelier MichL Gallery, Baie-Saint-Paul (Quebec), Dec. 2003-2007; | ||
Vanier Gallery, Beloeil (Quebec), 2002-2004; | ||
V.I.P. Center, 1000 de la Gauchetière, Montreal (Quebec), 2001-2003; | ||
Small Gallery at Baie St-Paul Bay Art Center, Baie-Saint-Paul (Quebec), 1998-2002; | ||
Nicole Deschênes Gallery, Port-au-Persil, Charlevoix (Quebec), 1996-1999; | ||
Galerie Denise Goulet-Raymond, Orford (Quebec), 1995. | ||
COLLECTIONS: | ||
Monastir City; | ||
Monastir City; | ||
Coaticook City; | ||
Delson City; | ||
Caisse Populaire Desjardins Mercier; | ||
Loggia II and Loggia on the lake, Nuns’ Island, Verdun, Quebec, Canada; | ||
Polytechnique, University of Montreal; | ||
Charles Sirois, offered by Polytechnique; | ||
Collective « Cœurs à cœurs » SEVA, Candiac. | ||
CREDENTIALS: | ||
2021-2011 | Cercle des poètes de la Montérégie; | |
2019-2015 | Collective Prism’Art; | |
2019-2011 | Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York; | |
2019-2002 | Culture Montérégie, formerly (CMCC); | |
2019-2001 | RAAV, professional artist | |
2018-2007 | Arts visuels Roussillon, dissolved in November 2018; | |
2012-2011 | Com2Art, International Association, Paris | |
2009-1996 | AAPARS, Association of South Shore Affiliated Painters. | |
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES: | ||
2021-2020 | Board of Directors of Cercle des Poètes de la Montérégie (Vice-President and Secretary); | |
2018-2007 | Member of Arts visuels Roussillon (AvR), I held all positions on the Board of this organization including that of President from 2009 to 2012; | |
2003-1999 | Artishow Group, I cumulated the position of founding member and administrative secretary; | |
2000-1996 | Secretary of the Association of South Shore Affiliated Painters (AAPARS). | |
AUTRES ACTIVITÉS : | ||
2000-1999 | Collective projects initiated by « Les Productions Cité Ouverte 2002 »:
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2019 | SEVA, design and realization of ‘Hearts to Hearts’ with residents. | |
PUBLICATONS: | ||
2015 | Poetic biography entitled « Montserrat, initiateur de changements », Éditions Belle Feuille, July, ISBN 978-2-924530-29-0; | |
Collective publications: Éditions mp tresart; « Plumes et Pinceaux » diary; exhibition catalogues, Covers of 5 books published by Éditions Gaëtan Morin; | ||
« Mille mots en images » (MMEI) I initiated and managed this project within AvR, for 7 publications. In 2021, the 8th edition was published, this time with the Poètes de la Montérégie. | ||
PRIZES AND MENTIONS: | ||
2011 | Tribute by Carole Freeman, Member of Parliament, Ottawa; | |
2010 | March 8, Women’s Day, President’s Salon, House of Commons. |