Trois-Rivières, November 18, 2020 – Aware of the local and regional artistic heritage and with the desire to support its development and dissemination, the Port of Trois-Rivières acquired the collection of canvas artworks Hommage au Saint-Laurent, created by a collective group of artists composed of Gérard Boulanger, Yvon Lemieux, Raymond Quenneville, Robert Roy and Yvon St-Aubin.
For several years now, the Port of Trois-Rivières has placed culture, in all its forms, at the heart of its community investment priorities. This is a means of supporting local and regional artists and participating in the dissemination of their work to the widest possible audience.
“The collection Hommage au Saint-Laurent is a large-scale project that aims to showcase our precious St. Lawrence River, the very river that gave birth to the Port of Trois-Rivières. These high-quality works are part of our maritime heritage and bear witness to the riches of this majestic waterway,” said Gaétan Boivin, President and CEO of the Port of Trois-Rivières.
“The St. Lawrence River is a jewel we can be proud of and must cherish. We are pleased to partner with the Port of Trois-Rivières in its praise. Let’s hope that the collection, as well as the accompanying book and documentary, will contribute to raising public awareness, especially among the growing youth, of figurative art, heritage protection and the preservation of “our” river, the St. Lawrence,” explained artist Raymond Quenneville.
“The St. Lawrence River is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me. When you work closely with it, you realize its strength, but also its vulnerability. How can one not be overwhelmed by its beauty, vitality and movement? We need this river to inspire us, to help us unwind and to keep our economy moving. We must cherish it and protect it with all our hearts,” added artist Yvon St-Aubin.
In addition to the collection, the artists produced a book and a video documentary that chronicles the five-year process that took them from Kingston to the Gaspé to create 100 paintings depicting the coastal villages and natural environments characteristic of each of the regions they visited. The book is currently in pre-sale with the artists.
Finally, in order to promote access to culture and more specifically to this collection, the Port is planning an exhibit of all the works in order to share their beauty with the general public.
To learn more about the collection and the artists, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hommageausaintlaurent/
About the collection and the artists
Hommage au Saint-Laurent is first and foremost a large collection of original artworks highlighting the beauty and diversity of the landscapes along the majestic St. Lawrence River. More specifically, it is composed of one hundred oil and acrylic paintings. Hommage au Saint-Laurent is also the reunion of five renowned Quebec painters who, at the height of their careers, pay a vibrant tribute to the St. Lawrence River. These artists pooled their talent, their passion and their combined experience to make these grandiose landscapes that are so dear to them vibrate. Those who will henceforth be called Les peintres du Saint-Laurent offer in five perspectives their love of the river and the best of themselves.
About the Port of Trois-Rivières
As part of the 17 Canadian Port Authorities and active since 1882, the Port of Trois-Rivières offers a wide range of facilities and services to the maritime industry throughout the year. The Port is an important player in regional, national and international economic development for major industrial sectors such as the aluminum industry, forestry and agri-food. The Port of Trois-Rivières accommodates 55,000 trucks, 11,000 railcars and more than 250 merchant and cruise ships annually originating from over 100 different ports in more than 40 countries around the world. It handles over 4 million metric tonnes of traffic and supports more than 2,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
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Source:
Sara Dubé
Director, Public Affairs and Human Resources
Port of Trois-Rivières
Office: 819 378-2887, ext 207
Cell: 819 244-7191