Canadian Folk Art and Outsider Art
Joseph Lepage. Sculptor. Wood carver. Montreal, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th Century.
Carved birds labelled Joseph Lepage are occasionally found in the Montreal area. I have no other information about this artist. An example is shown below.
A Seagull. With the label of Joseph Lepage:
Joseph Lepage.Montreal, Quebec. Seagull. 1970’s.
The Label:
Joseph Lepage.Montreal, Quebec. Seagull. 1970’s.
Lionel Tremblay. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Flavie, Quebec. Active 1960’s – c. 2000.
Lionel Tremblay made carvings of the birds found along the Gaspe shore. He was taught wood carving by Israel Menard (his Father-in-law)* who made and sold carving to tourists and travelers in a small gallery at his house. Tremblay opened a shop and Gallery at L’Ilest-sur-Mer around 1960 where he and his wife Henriette (Menard) made and sold carvings of Geese and other birds to travelers. Their work grew into a family enterprise that still exists today. Lionel Tremblay’s bird carvings were elegant and well colored and can be found signed by hand or with a stamp.
*See the entry for Isreal Menard.
An early carving of a Snow Goose by Lionel Tremblay:
Lionel Tremblay. St-Flavie, Quebec. Carved and painted Snow Goose. 9″ Long.
Crawford Slack. Painter. Athens, Ontario. Active late 19th-early 20th century.
Born in Wilsetown near Athens Ontario, Crawford Slack was self-taught and multi-talented. He wrote poetry (in the vernacular of rural Ontario), music and was also a musician himself. He worked as a carriage painter in Westport, Ontario, Montreal, Brockville, Ontario and eventually opened his own shop in Athens in 1913.
He painted the landscapes and pastoral scenes of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec and became an accomplished artist. His work can be found in collections in the Brockville – Kingston – Athens area and is becoming very much sought after in elsewhere in Canada and the U.S.
Referred to as “a Renaissence Man” by a biographer *Crawford Slack was known as mindful and generous. He often gave his work away or traded it for goods or services. (It should be noted that some biographers give his dates as 1855-1927.)
*A link to a Biography of the artist by Sally Smid:
Shown below is a view of the Richelieu Valley titled “Along the Richelieu”. Signed and dated 1903:
Crawford Slack. Athens, Ont., (1855-1929) ‘Along the Richelieu’ Oil on Board. Signed.
Philippe Fournier. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Hilaire-de-Dorset, Frontenac Cte, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.
Philippe Fournier worked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a diver and mechanic. He eventually returned to Quebec and settled in Deauville. He made carvings of such traditional themes as wagons with teams and drivers, houses and bird houses. He also made carvings of people at play; from dancers and musicians to bowling (a favorite theme). His work appeared in the book ‘Pour Passer le Temps-Artistes Populaires du Quebec’. (1985)* which included a bowling scene. He often used other materials than wood in making his works. An example of his work is shown.
*Ref: Pour passer le temps: artistes populaires du Québec. SIMARD Jean, Bernard Genest, Francine Labonté et René Bouchard. Québec, ministère des Affaires culturelles – collection Les publications du Québec, les Cahiers du patrimoine 17, 1985.
Philippe Fournier. Carving of a group of bowlers at the bowling alley. 1970’s:
Philippe Fournier. Deauville, Que. (1902-) Unusual Painted carving of a Bowling Alley with Bowlers. 22 ” Long.
Lucien Dompierre. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Laval, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th century.
A pipe fitter by trade, he began carving around the age of 50 and gave courses in sculpting after retiring and taught until well into his 70’s. Lucien Dompierre worked mainly in Basswood. He made relief carvings as well as carvings in the round. His most liked work was of popular characters -film stars, politicians and people in trades. His sculptures were always well painted and often signed with attached metal labels. His work was sold here in Canada and also overseas.
A carving of Charlie Chaplin by Lucien Dompierre (1980’s):
Lucien Dompierre. Laval, Quebec. 1931-2013. Signed painted carving of Charlie Chaplin.
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