Children draw on the PAA chalk board mural in Portage-du-Fort, created for the 150th celebration of the municipality this year.
Kate Aley
Children draw on the PAA chalk board mural in Portage-du-Fort, created for the 150th celebration of the municipality this year.
Kate Aley
PORTAGE-DU-FORT – The Pontiac Artists Association held its annual general meeting, December 4, at the Stone School Gallery. The meeting was an opportunity for the art community to get together to hear about the year’s successes and plans for next year’s events and shows. The Pontiac Artists Association, established in 2004, is a registered non-profit association whose goal is to promote arts and culture and to contribute to the cultural life of the Pontiac region through direct action.
In her opening address, PAA president, France Lamarche, highlighted the tremendous refurbishment of the entryway and upper and lower galleries in the Stone School. “A grant from the Rural Pact helped us proceed with the renovations of the building. The planning stage is now finished and the actual work will be done in the coming year. We were proud to present a series of four shows named ‘Ensemble’ and a fifth one in conjunction with the celebration of Champlain’s 400th anniversary,” said Lamarche.
Another grant from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ), le Conseil régional des élus de l’Outaouais (CREO) and the City of Gatineau allowed the PAA to organize these shows, which promoted the region and encouraged an exchange between the artists.
Thanks to a partnership with the CRCO, Emploi-Québec and the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, two courses on portfolios and photographing artwork were offered. This was the ninth year that the Pontiac School of the Arts has been in operation. Eight courses, which included life drawing, jewellery making and floor cloths, were taught this year. The gallery also promoted a course in 18th century pigment mixing techniques, followed by an exhibition of works inspired by the period.
2013 was the Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour’s 24th year. A total of fifteen artists participated, including two new artists: Rosemary Hynes Driscoll, a fused glass artist, and Hyesuk Kim, a Korean traditional paper and textile artist.
The Residency Week of 2013 was attended by eleven visiting artists who came from as far away as Spencerville and Colorado in the USA. They were joined by many artists from the Pontiac Artists Association, creating a great positive experience working with shared creative energies.
