Emile Bluteau. Sculptor. Eastern Townships, Quebec. Active 1970’s-.
Emile Bluteau is one of Quebec’s great primitive artists. He started carving in the late 1970’s, birds at first, and then after a break, he began carving the human condition in all its moods and shapes. Emile’s sense of humour is visible in nearly every carving. And it is even more obvious when he talks about himself. He was born in ‘various places’ according to him but we think it may have been Roxton Pond, Quebec on June 29, 1931. He spent some years growing up in Charlevoix County, Quebec, with relatives, again, according to Emile.
He was involved with the antiques business (had a significant collection of older Quebec calendars he once told me). He was a ‘brocanteur’ as it is said in Quebec. (A ‘buyer and seller’.) And a folk artist/woodcarver/primitive artist and maker of ‘assemblies’. He prefers to work with ‘as found’ materials; from wood-plastic-metal (whatever crosses his way), to the final colour. He is not fond of actually buying material. A drive down a road or street on trash day with Emile can take a long time his spouse once told me. He prefers to find it. He now lives in Wickham, Quebec.
Emile Bluteau carves what comes to mind and he can be very playful. He told me one Spring day, after showing me a carving of a Man and a Woman, that many many people had asked him to make Wedding couples; so he thought he had better make a divorced couple. He carves our heroes and he carves our villains; our present day and our past. All with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
Below are some illustrations of works by Mr. Bluteau showing the range of his art.
Two early Bird Carvings by Emile Bluteau. (1970’s):
Early Bird Carving by Emile Bluteau 1970’s
An example of Emile Bluteau’s work at its very best: ‘The Pig with her Piglets’. A later work. The first image showing the reverse side with title and signature and evidence of ‘as found’ materials.
(From a Private Collection.)
Wood carving, Reverse side of Pig and Piglets by Emile Bluteau, Wickham, Quebec. C.2003.
Wood carving by Emile Bluteau, Wickham, Quebec. Pig and Piglets. Signed on the reverse. C. 2003.
Emile Bluteau. Reclining Lady. ‘Madame Sur sa Fauteuil’:
Emile Bluteau. Wickham, Quebec. Reclining Lady. Madame sur sa Fauteuil.
Emile Bluteau. At play:
Emile Bluteau at play. At a market in Quebec. 2006. Image: Mark Zannis.
“Man and Bird:
Emile Bluteau. Sculptor. Quebec. Man and Yellow Bird.
Man Walking his Bear:
Emile Bluteau. Sculptor. Quebec. Man and Bear.
Table at an out door ‘Gallery’. Back in the Day:
Bluteau Market Table. Photo: Mark Zannis
A Crucifix by Emile Bluteau:
Emile Bluteau. Sculptor. Quebec. Crucific. 550
Emile Bluteau. Carving of a Motorcycle. Pre-war Indian model with rider (himself) and sidecar. His dream machine:
Emile Bluteau. Carving of an Indian Motorcycle.
Detail:
Emile Bluteau. Detail of Indian Motorcycle.
Emile Bluteau’s first work. Done in the early 1970’s, it is carved in a block of Yellow Birch wood in the round that he took from his firewood pile. He said that it took him forever to finish and he never carved hard-wood again! A stunning work, about 16 inches long:
Emile Bluteau’s first work. Head of an Aboriginal man.
