Rejean Pipon. Sculptor. Wood carver. Anse-au-Griffon, Gaspe, Quebec. Active mid to 2010.

Rejean Pipon was perhaps best known for his over-sized and  even monumental sculptures of insects that he attached to the sides of his white stuccoed house in Anse-au-Griffon; not far from Forillon on the tip of the Gaspe peninsula. He created them out of his imagination; some were smaller and some were very large. The artist once told me that he enjoyed watching his larger insect creations travelling off down highway 132 strapped to the roof of a collector’s car. He enjoyed the over-sized perspective and played with it in his art. A carved two meter long pocket knife that he kept in his studio was an example.

While his insects were a strong attraction for the passer-by; his main creations were smaller carvings of traditional Quebec scenes of people at their every-day activities. Making soap, black-smithing, harvesting in the fields and making butter were some of his favorite scenes. He carved in Cedar wood and his scenes would often include children at play. He often signed them and sometimes used color. Many are in private collections and some can be seen at the ‘Musee-de-la-Gaspesie’ in Gaspe village. He would often put carvings of black painted crows on the fence posts that surrounded his house.

There are full sized sculptures of Religious figures (including a Calvary) carved by Rejean Pipon over looking the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence at Cap-aux-Os, Gaspe. There is a photo of the Calvary posted below taken very recently; unfortunately it is in a very neglected state. As well there is an image of Rejean Pipon’s house with three of his carvings.

Rejean Pipon and his house can be seen on the cover of the book on Gaspe artists: ‘Un art pas si bete’ published in 1993.

Rejean Pipon’s House looking East:

Rejean Pipon’s House. Looking East.

The Calvary by Rejean Pipon. Taken in 2016*:

The Calvary by Rejean Pipon. Cap-des-Rosiers, Quebec.

* Image by  Photographer Eric Garsonnin. From his Flicker feed:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photocopies/

Ref: Un Art Pas Si Bete. Cecile Gelinas, Musee de la Gaspesie, Quebec, 1993.

Ref:  Adrien Levasseur. Website. And:  Sculpteurs en Art Populaire au Quebec, Editions GID, Quebec. 2012.

Jean-Paul Dube. Sculptor, Wood carver. New-Carlisle, Gaspe, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Mr. Dube was born in Matapedia, Quebec. He studied law and was a Salmon fishing guide on the Matapedia. He began to carve in his spare time (while listening to hockey on the radio) and made carvings of animals, fish and every kind of bird found in the Matapedia valley. His carvings show great detail and color. From feathers to scales and fur. His work is collected throughout North America.

Ref: Un Art Pas Si Bete. Cecile Gelinas, Musee de la Gaspesie, Quebec, 1993.

Reynald Cullen. Sculptor. Mixed media. Carleton, Gaspe, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Reynald Cullen created sculptures of people and birds in particular. He used ‘as found’ materials including shells, fish bones, crab shells, wire, cloth and anything suitable that he found on the shore of the Baie-des-Chaleurs in Gaspe. He was particularly attracted to bird sculptures and making them appear to move in flight.  Reynald Cullen’s work is rarely found today; only occasionally seen at auction either privately or on Ebay. An example of one of his Birds (seen on Ebay) is shown here.

A sculpture of a Bird in flight by Reynald Cullen. ‘As found shells and bones’.:

Reynald Cullen. Gaspe, Que. Sculpture of a Gull. Shell and Moss.

Reynald Cullen’s Mark:

Reynald Cullen. His mark.

Ref: Un Art Pas Si Bete. Cecile Gelinas, Musee de la Gaspesie, Quebec, 1993.

Arhtur Savoie. Sculptor. Wood carver. Nouvelle, Gaspe, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Arthur Savoie made applied carvings and also carved in the round. He carved animals and birds and always painted or varnished his work. He occasionally made lamps with a carving on the base and also used ‘as found’ elements in his sculptures.

Ref: Un Art Pas Si Bete. Cecile Gelinas, Musee de la Gaspesie, Quebec, 1993.