Albert Giroux. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Sainte-Anne-de-la-Parade, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Albert Giroux was a naive sculptor. He made unpainted carvings of people that told a story of their lives. His work was focused on history especially the history of his family and of Quebec and the church. His carvings were  well done and showed great feeling. “I wanted to show a crying child, who was hungry”,  he said in an interview. Giroux seemed to treat wood like marble in his work. (There were marble Quarries near where he lived.) He was first mentioned in Les Patenteux du Quebec.

Ref: Les Patenteux du Qubec. Louise de Grosbois, Raymonde Lamothe and Lise Nantel, Les Editions Parti Pris, Montreal, 1978.

Ref: Kobayashi/Bird, A Compendium of Canadian Folk Artists (1985).

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

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.

Antonio Genest. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Disraeli, Quebec. Active 1930’s.

Antonio Genest made naive painted carvings of animals. He is not known to have signed his work.

Ref: Canadian Antiques and Art Review. (1981).

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

Mme Raoul Gaudreault. Sculptor. Fabric artist. St.-Ambbroise, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Mme Gaudreault used material to make life-sized human figures that she would dress in traditional costumes. She placed them in her yard posed in scenes of village life. She was first mentioned in Les Patenteux du Quebec.

Ref: Les Patenteux du Qubec. Louise de Grosbois, Raymonde Lamothe and Lise Nantel, Les Editions Parti Pris, Montreal, 1978.

Bertrand Lavoie. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Baie-Saint-Paul, Charlevoix, Quebec. Active late 20th century.

Bertrand Lavoie’s mark is seen on a painted carving of a Rooster. It is signed on the base and marked ‘Baie-St-Paul. The carving measures about 4 1/2 inches high. (I have no dates yet for this artist.)

Rooster by Bertrand Lavoie:

Bertrand Lavoie. Rooster. Baie-St-Paul, Quebec.

Bertrand Lavoie. His mark:

Bertrand Lavoie. Baie-St-Paul, Quebec. His mark.

Alfred Garceau. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Grand-Mere, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Alfred Garceau made primitive carvings of people. In his words he carved the heads of his figures first and then the bodies. He never painted his work nor signed them. He was first mentioned in Les Patenteux du Quebec.

Ref: Les Patenteux du Qubec. Louise de Grosbois, Raymonde Lamothe and Lise Nantel, Les Editions Parti Pris, Montreal, 1978.

Ref: Kobayashi/Bird, A Compendium of Canadian Folk Artists (1985).

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