Eugene Mathieu. Sculptor. Model maker. Ascot Corner, Quebec. (L’Estrie) Active late 1960’s – .
Eugene Mathieu began to create after an illness in the late 1960’s initially making small models of Windmills, Lighthouses and so on. Then he negan his master work. Between 1968 and 1976 he built a model of a village in his yard. He built models of houses in Ascot-Corners as well as buildings from other towns in the area. There was the Church, the Manse, General Store and school. Also in the ‘village’ were animals, wagons and a ‘Grotte’ (Shrine). All to scale and finely detailed and painted. His village had electricity as well and seemed to have a life of it’s own. A typical house was a little less than a metre square. They were roofed in tin or asphalt shingles, electrified, had windows and floored interiors and were fully furnished. The village consisted of about 25 buildings. It was a tour de force.
Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.
