Throughout the summer of 2023, the light-filled upstairs rooms of the Cie Vilandré Pub on Capelton Road in North Hatley were filled with the shapes, colors, canvases and sculptures of some 15 highly talented and experienced local artists.
The first exhibition, in June and July, was an opportunity to discover or revisit painters such as Yvan Dagenais, Michèle Anne Brosseau and Margrethe Ulvik, as well as sculptors such as Natalie Sanche, Pauline Jacques, Côme Lamontagne, illustrator Pascal Biet and multidisciplinary artist Line Fafard, to whom were added for the second exhibition, in August and September, painters Irénée Belley, Janick Ericksen, Kevin Whitaker, Caroline George, Suzanne Ferland, Pierre Laviolette, Chantal Deslandes, Lyse St-Michel and Rolande L’Écuyer.
The public was able to admire, discover or revisit works of all kinds, free of charge: impressionist or figurative paintings, naturalistic or modernist sculptures, sketches or drawings. From the comments left in the visitors’ book, visitors loved the diversity, modernity and quality of the works, and the accessibility of such an exhibition. And they want more!
On the fun side, a mystery contest helped visitors decipher the works on display and deepen their knowledge. These riddles were a particular hit with the children who visited the exhibition. In all, almost fifty people took part in the game.
Two launches marked the opening of each phase of the exhibition, in June and August, each time bringing together numerous political and artistic personalities, as well as volunteers and members of ARTS-CULTURES MASSAWIPPI. These warm and convivial social gatherings are much appreciated opportunities for exchange. Both events were so popular that ARTS-CULTURES MASSAWIPPI was obliged to sell out.
The L’Art en Jeu exhibition organized by ARTS-CULTURES MASSAWIPPI gave visibility to several artists who had never exhibited their work before. A series of workshops led by the artists themselves extended the fun, opening up windows of learning and perhaps even sparking vocations in drawing, painting or sculpture.