LyleElderFolkArt.com > An Index of Canadian Folk Artists

Wesley Hubley

Born: 1920  |  Died: 1991

Wesley Hubley. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Active mid to late 20th century.

Wesley Hubley, discovered by Chris Huntingdon,  was considered the ‘father’ of Nova Scotia folk art by him. Hubley took part in the first two Folk Art Festivals in Nova Scotia and he also appeared in the NFB film “Folk Art Found Me”. Wesley Hubley made carvings of birds, animals, fish and people. His works were usually painted in ‘as found’ colours and he often used ‘as found materials. His work is considered rare and is much sought after. Hubley is cited in ‘A Life of Its Own’ and ‘A Joyous Vision’*.

*Ref: Anne Sutherland and Zalman Amit. The Sutherland/Amit Collection. Smith Falls, Ont. 1994.

*Ref: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, A Life of Its Own Chris Huntington and the Resurgence of Nova Scotia Folk Art (1997).

Ref: Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival Society, A Joyous Vision – Contemporary Folk Art in Nova Scotia (1995).

Ref: The Black Sheep Gallery

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Alphonse Morache

Born: Active mid 20th century.

Alphonse Morache. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Saint-Constant, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Alphonse Morache is known for a naive painted relief carving of a barn dance. It is signed on the reverse with a stamp showing his name and address.

Relief carving of a Barn Dance by Alphonse Morache:

Alphonse Morache. Relief carving of a Barn Dance. 1960's.

Alphonse Morache. Relief carving of a Barn Dance. 1960’s.

The Reverse with the marks:

Morache

Alphonse Morache. His mark:

A detail  of The Barn Dance:

alphonse-morache-detail-of-the-barn-dance

alphonse-morache-detail-of-the-barn-dance

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Joseph-Aime Houde

Born: 1932

Joseph-Aime Houde. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Riviere-Eternite, Quebec. Active late 20th century – .

Joseph-Aime Houde is known for his creche carvings. Beginning in 1989, the Village of Riviere-Eternite has had an annual display of carvings of Nativity Scenes or Creches; often each house in the village will display one in their yard – “it is important that each family make their own”.  Mr Houde has made a different one each year for over 20 years and has been collected widely, in Europe and elsewhere. Below is a quote by Emanuel Houde, Joseph-Aime’s son, from a CBC article on the annual displays (2010):

“Une crèche pour chaque maison. Au village, presque chaque maison arbore une crèche. « C’est pas mal toutes les maisons qui en fabriquent. Tout le monde embarque puis tout le monde oeuvre d’originalité […] C’est important de fabriquer notre crèche. Ça montre un symbole qu’on est tous ensemble », dit Emmanuel Houde, un résident du village.”

In 2004-2005 Joseph-Aime Houde made a life-sized creche.

 

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Mme T. Hovington

Born: Active 1930's.

Mme T. Hovington. Fabric artist. Rug hooker. Tadoussac, Quebec. Active 1930’s.

Mme. Hovington made decorative hooked mats in dyed silk and cotton of landscapes with buildings. She also hooked village and rural scenes using dyed wool yarn. She is cited in Barbeau’s book: J’ai vu Quebec.*

 

*Ref: Marius Barbeau,  J’ai vu Québec. Québec City: Garneau.(1957).

Ref: Blake McKendry, An Illustrated Companion to Canadian Folk Art (1999).

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Cyril Hirtle

Born: 1918  |  Died: 2003

Cyril Hirtle. Painter. Hirtle’s Beach. Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Active 1990’s.

Cyril Hirtle was a painter of naive landscapes and seascapes; pictures of the Nova Scotia that he grew up in and where he spent his life. His paintings are imaginative and striking. He is cited in A Joyous vision*.

Cyril Hirtle. With some of his paintings:

cyril-hirtle-with-his-works

cyril-hirtle-with-his-works

A painting of a Fisherman by Cyril Hirtle:

cyril-hirtle-fisherman

cyril-hirtle-fisherman

 

 

 

Ref: The Upper Canadian Jan/Feb 1993.

*Ref: Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival Society, A Joyous Vision – Contemporary Folk Art in Nova Scotia (1995).

Ref: Blake McKendry, An Illustrated Companion to Canadian Folk Art (1999).

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