Boisés Est and Le Chenail invite local artists to illustrate “The People’s Forest”

As part of the Ontario and Canada 150th Anniversary celebrations, Boisés Est and the Le Chenail Cultural Centre are organizing a painting exhibition entitled “The People’s Forest” to illustrate the tight connection that exists between our regional community and the forest. The works of 20 recognized artists selected by the organizing committee will be displayed at the Le Chenail Cultural Centre from 7 September to 1 October 2017. An official presentation will be held on Wednesday, 27 September 2017, Canada’s National Tree Day. The event will also serve to launch the program celebrating Boisés Est’s own 20th Anniversary (1998-2018).

The Theme

Local artists are invited to illustrate the ever-evolving relationship that exists between humans and the forest: forest and economy (traditional and modern industries and crafts); forest and history (e.g., land occupation led by the forest industry); forest and traditions (e.g., maple syrup, etc.), forest and health
(physical/mental forest and biodiversity), forest and spirituality, forest and imagination, forest and our heritage (e.g., First Nations’ heritage), etc. Given that the exhibition aims to stress forest/people interactions, all works must include a human element.

Selection Criteria

Participants: The 20 artists selected will be recognized painters residing within Boisés Est’s official territory (defined by Highway 416 to the West, the St-Lawrence river to the South, The Quebec border to the East, and the Ottawa river to the North). The selection committee will favour those projects that best match the theme. It will also try to create a set of complementary pieces that best represent the diversity of interactions between people and the forest.

Each participating artist will receive a free 40×30-inch canvas. Would-be participants are invited to register with Centre culturel Le Chenail Cultural Centre before 31 May 2017 4:00 pm. They will be expected to indicate which aspect of the theme they plan to cover, with a sketch to illustrate it.

The final list of participants will be released by 30 June 2017.

All participating artists will submit their completed project to Le Chenail by 18 August 2017, 4:00 pm. By participating in the exhibition, they authorize Centre culturel Le Chenail Cultural Centre and Boisés Est to reproduce their work in a colour catalogue that will be printed for the exhibition, and will specify the
artists’ names and painting titles. All the paintings will remain on display throughout the exhibition.

This event is held with the collaboration of the Prescott & Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC).

For additional information : Lynda Clouette-Mackay 613-632- 9555 [email protected] or Jean-Claude Havard 613-673- 3089 [email protected].