In July 2011 while vacationing
'downeast', I had occasion to visit the very well-known and Internationally
acclaimed Acadian-scenes Painter/Artist, Claude T. Picard (and his wonderful
wife, Jeanne). While he was nursing a sore foot at the time of my visit,
Claude was in the midst of reproducing one of his famous 'Acadian-scene'
paintings... at the ripe age of 79 years!
Claude Picard was born in 1932
in Edmundston, New Brunswick. In 1946, when he was only 14, he won a national
award in an artistic competition. He then undertook a three-year study
trip in Europe from 1956-1959. Mr. Picard depicts landscapes of his region,
and also portraits, murals and historical paintings. Some of his portraits
are at the Senate of Canada and the National Library of Canada in Ottawa,
at the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in Fredericton, at the University
of Moncton, and at the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John.
From an "Acadian perspective',
Claude is undoubtedly best known for the six stunning historical scenes
(best known as his 'Deportation Series') which he painted of the
Grand Pré area for Parks Canada, each depicting typical Acadian
scenes such as their harvest, their refusal to take the British oath,
their imprisonment, the actual deportation, the burning of their houses
and fields and their resettlement after the deportation.
Early Acadia 1635-1755
The Oath of Allegiance 1730
The Deportation Order 1755
Settlements Are Burned 1755
Ships Take Acadians Into Exile
1755
His painting 'Le départ
vers l’exile 1755 - Ships take Acadians into Exile-1755' is on
the official First Day Cover of the 2005 Acadian
Deportation Stamp, which was unveiled in Caraquet, N.B., by Canada
Post.
Migration and Return 1755-1800
In 1992, he received the Commemorative
Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation (of Canada). In 1990
he was awarded the Gold Professional Award by the Society of Graphic Designers
of Canada for his paintings displayed on the historical map Acadie, l’Odyssée
d’un peuple (Acadia, the Odyssey of a People).
Canada Council grants were given
to him in 1982 and 1992. In 1996, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree
in Visual Arts from the University of Moncton.
In 2004, he was named “Personnalité
Richelieu 2004” by the Edmundston Richelieu Club. The same year,
he was chosen the winner of the Miller Brittain Award for his excellence
in visual arts offered by the New Brunswick Arts Council.
In 2005, Claude was awarded
"La Petite Nyctale" by the Association du Musée
acadien de l’Î.-P.-É. of Miscouche for his involvement
in the Acadian cause and in recognition of the six large historical paintings
titled 'Les grandes heures du peuple acadien - Momentous Landmarks
of the Acadian People' (depicting the Acadian symbols), the originals
of which are displayed at the Acadian Museum of Miscouche in P.E.I. In
2006, the Musée acadien de l’Î.-P.É. in Miscouche,
P.E.I. named a room “Galerie Claude Picard” in his honour.
A Patron Saint and a National
Day for Acadie
An Insignia, A Motto and a
National Flag for Acadie
First unfurling of the tricolore
Etoile and a National Anthem for Acadie
First Raising 'On Land' of
the National Flag of Acadie
(Irony of History); England,
First Nation to Salute the Acadian Flag
Flag of Acadiana, French Lyrics
for the Ave Maris Stella, and National Arms for Acadie
Also in 2005, he was honoured
by the City of Edmundston, N.B., for his involvement in promoting the
arts. He received the Société Louis-Napoléon-Dugal
Award for his contribution to the valorization of French and Acadian culture
in the Madawaska region and was inducted into the Edmundston Arts Hall
of Fame (TRAHF Edmundston).
City of Edmundston, New Brunswick
Mural
What is probably less known
about Claude, is that the above mural was envisioned and completed in
1985 for the Madawaska Bicentennial. This historical mural pays homage
to our pioneers, our settlers, our missionaries, our builders. It defines
the altruism, sacrifice, courage, tenacity, loyalty and devotion to work
of our ancestors. It is a brief retelling of the history of Madawaska,
but this time through images. This mural, which measures approximately
2.1 m X 2.3 m (7' X 7 1/2`), is permanently displayed in the Municipal
Council Chamber in Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before accomplishing this work
of art, the artist Picard had to prepare numerous pencil drafts, sometimes
calling upon a live model to capture the corporal expression of each character
with the most accuracy possible. When his sketch satisfied him, he cut
it out and added it to a collage where the other characters, laid out
in small groups, seemed to balance each other in their relationships or
with the work they were accomplishing. Once the composition was determined,
he redrew the entire depiction and colored it with gouache to finish his
draft. Last of all, he traced the contours with charcoal and painted the
details with a brush, using the draft for inspiration: the project involving
several months of work, not counting the weeks of preparation leading
to the result. He was inspired by Thomas Albert’s book, l‘Histoire
du Madawaska, and articles published in the publication Revue de la Société
historique du Madawaska. The artist wishes to thank Mgr. E. Lang, Mr.
Oneil Clavet, Sr. Georgette Desjardins, Sr. Henriette Raymond and Mr.
Conrad Soucy for their valued advice.
The whole of the tableau consists
of 24 scenes which speak to us through an event or a given period of our
history, through the trades or professions, through the buildings or companies,
the world of commerce and leisure, the world of teachers or health care
workers, religious life, flora, fauna, our traditions, our customs, our
folklore and our land. Many other companies, characters or events could
have been depicted, but it was impossible to put all in a mural of this
kind.
Mr. Picard may be contacted
via 'snail mail' at...
227, rue Principale, Saint-Basile
(Edmundston), New Brunswick E7C 1H7 CANADA
Comments about this Page? Send them to me at cajun
acadian.org
