Joséphine, 2004
Joséphine is a sculpture composed of bent and welded iron rods to the shape of a large teapot covered with vintage hand made doilies, sewn together and stiffened with acrylic medium. The idea was to use it as a sort of trophy, to pay tribute, to my great grandmother. It was part of my first solo exhibition, Parler d’elles…, held at La Maison des artistes in November 2004. The installation comprised a multiple soft sculptures in the shape of tea sets fashioned from domestic materials (icing, crocheted yarns, lace, wax) that symbolize different aspects of female persona. An added sound feature for this exhibition consisted of women of all generations sharing thoughts about their experiences.

My French Canadian heritage and the pioneering spirit of my grandmothers and great aunts, along with my own childhood memories of growing up with three sisters in an insular francophone environment, provide sources for my creations.

Finally, I placed Joséphine near Wauchope, Saskachewan, where my ancestors settled when they moved from Lyon, France, in 1904. My relatives still own this farm and have many stories to tell about life then and also about life today. Relocating my teapot and making contact with my relatives, that I had not seen since my childhood, has triggered an interest in doing research about my family history in order to understand what happened to their language, culture and way of living.