Group exhibition

Painting and drawing

Vernissage Sunday February, 23 at 2 p.m.

This exhibition brings together five artists who share a common perspective on the people and the places where they live. Although their approaches differ, they are all imbued with tenderness and humanism, free of judgment. Each artist documents daily life, in their own way — exchanges, interaction, or conversely, solitude, isolation, and anxiety. They express emotion in their work while maintaining an observational stance, slightly detached, as if each one were saying, “These people are ‘us’: we young people, elderly, active citizens or not, we humans who live and work, prey to boredom, anxiety, and impermanence.”

Caroline Guay

Renaissance, rediscovery, a return to the roots—life often takes us far from where we expected to go.
Fascinated by Primitivism, Fauvism, and German Expressionism—art movements I explored in my art history classes—I discovered a whole new way to express myself artistically. My art has evolved and transformed. From graphite to India ink, from acrylic to mixed media, I now express my creativity using watercolor pastels on paper. Starting in 2024, I feel my work has become more personal and intuitive.

Caroline Guay has worked as a medical imaging technologist in the healthcare system since 1993. After taking a long leave of absence, she rediscovered drawing.
Since 2018, she has exhibited her work in Quebec. Selected in 2023 for her exhibition J’ai le goût de chanter (I Feel Like Singing), presented in the Quebec City library network, and by La Centrale des artistes for an exhibition in Laval, she has also started studying visual arts at Cégep de Limoilou.

 

Christine Larivière

Passionate about visual arts since childhood, I love exploring all sorts of mediums: from graphite to charcoal, from watercolour to oil painting. I delight in moving between creation and execution.
I paint everyday life. I explore urban realities (inhabitants, markets, buildings, etc.), celebrate certain professions (merchants, crossing guards, transporters, delivery people, servers, etc.). I am drawn to children in their different contexts, as they enjoy life. I am captivated by the emotions, attitudes, and gestures of citizens in their environments. Naturally, all our actions, day after day, are done in conjunction with those of our fellow citizens. This reality often goes unnoticed, as simple as it may be. By magnifying these moments, I attempt to highlight the importance we all have for one another.

Christine Larivière is a contemporary figurative painter. Originally from the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region, she studied animation drawing and graphic design before pursuing classical studies at the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. She then continued her training with the great master Achille Kouamé.
Now a proud member of the Institut des Arts Figuratifs, Christine is also a member of AAPARS and Mondial Art Academia, where she was named “Artist of the Month” for April 2024. Recipient of several grants and awards over the years, she counts among her collectors several cities, including Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Brossard, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, and Candiac, which have fallen under the charm of her works.

 

Cynthia van Frank

As an artist and educator born in Montreal, I navigate the complex interactions of memory, loss, family, home, and nature in my practice. As a second-generation Holocaust survivor, my work uniquely explores the lasting impact of trauma, focusing on my 92-year-old mother’s journey through dementia, intertwined with my contemplations on mortality. I assume the role of memory keeper, shedding light on the fragility of memories and uncovering stories in everyday objects.
Each brushstroke embodies an “emotional realism,” reflecting my remarkable ability to capture complex emotions.

Cynthia van Frank holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction and a diploma in art education from Concordia University. She furthered her studies at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. Her work has been exhibited in the United States and France, and her pieces are part of prestigious institutions and private collections.

 

Mary Hayes

Alternating between watercolour and oil painting, my work is inspired by representations of the human figure in classical European painting and popular culture. By uniting historical and contemporary references, I create a sense of imbalance and overlapping narratives, intertwined and sometimes contradictory.

My recent paintings have resulted from collaborations with the youngest members of my family. The models/partners take on roles in scenarios inspired by Teen Thriller, Teen Sleuth, and Adventure/Sci-Fi genres frequently explored in American popular culture (Nancy Drew, Halloween, Twilight, Riverdale, to name a few). Gesture and facial expression become tools to express the individual’s personal journey within a broader societal context. I explore themes like social isolation, human migration, and the climate crisis.

A painter, muralist, scenic painter, and art educator, Mary Hayes earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University. She has presented several solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in Quebec and across North America. She has received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation. Her work is part of public and private collections, including the Canada Council Art Bank, Loto-Québec, BAnQ’s Grande Bibliothèque, the Musée du Québec, and Senvest Inc. She lives in Tiohtià:ke – Mooniyang – Montreal.

 

Richard Paul

Graduated in architecture in 1977, I fell in love with drawing during my studies. Unfortunately, I had to change career paths due to a downturn in the field, but retirement in 2021 finally allowed me to fully dedicate myself to painting. I draw my inspiration from my travels, magazine photographs, and the museums I visit.

Here, I take a particular look at beach life: a grand wedding, a mother and child chatting with their feet in the water, landscapes with or without human presence. I am drawn to the simple, the mundane, the everyday moments infused with the joys of the seaside.

A true art enthusiast, Richard Paul has been oil painting for nearly twenty years. The artist exhibited his work in 2016 at the Maison des Gouverneurs and presented new portraits at the Centre Récréatif Au Fil des Ans in Sorel-Tracy in 2020.