Pontiac Inspired is a podcast that talks about visual arts and crafts in the Pontiac territory.
Join us for an informal discussion with three Pontiac artists and discover the many facets of our guests’ artistic practice. At the Stone School Gallery, in Portage-du-fort, Barry Young, a woodturner from Bristol, Michele Gagnon, a digital artist from Fort-Coulonge, and Emily McCann, a painter from Quyon held a passionate and genuine discussion about art, creation, and their personal practice.
INVITED ARTISTS
BARRY YOUNG
Barry is a woodturner who uses a lathe and locally sourced wood to produce turned functional wood art. His art can be found for sale at the Marche Bristol Market at the beach by the pier in Norway Bay Quebec Saturdays from 11 to 3 during the summer months. Barry likes to highlight imperfections such as knots, bark inclusions and cracks in each piece. Barry shapes each piece to best show off mother nature’s artwork.
Live edge bark on Cherry bowl. Approx. 13 inches x 10 inches.
Spalted Maple bowl. Approx. 12 inches x 5 inches.
MICHELE GAGNON
Michele Gagnon (she, her, they, them) is a queer, amateur digital artist living in Fort-Coulonge, Qc. Her work is inspired by nature, feminism, and social activism. She also loves creating fun and whimsical illustrations and designs for children’s books and greeting cards.
Butch -
Digital art. A fun and colourful design featuring a daperly dressed butch woman.
She Can Turn you to Stone -
Digital art. Inspired by dangerous and powerful womxn.
EMILY McCANN
Emily is a self-taught artist from Quyon, Quebec. She creates organic, nature inspired paintings and mandala designs. She finds peace and purpose in her creations and sharing them with the world. Her purpose is to spread positivity and happiness through her work. Find her on Instagram and Facebook under McCannArtt.
Rise up
Acrylic on Canvas
Nature Mandala
Acrylic on round canvas
CLIPS
Here are thematic excerpts from the podcast. Enjoy!
ADVICE FOR A YOUNG ARTIST
Should you get formal training? How do you learn the ropes in arts or crafts? Should you just grab some colours and brushes and run with it? Our guests share their advice to anyone who’d like to start creating.
COMMISSIONED vs. INDEPENDENT CREATION
Every professional artist will sell their art. Discover some insight as to what makes commissioned work feel different from independent creation.
LETTING GO OF A PIECE
Parting with a piece you invested a lot in, whether you gift it or you sell it, rouses a lot of emotions. Dive into what our three artists have to share about letting go of one of their pieces.
VULNERABILITY
To create is to put a part of yourself into the world. Michele, Emily, and Barry share their insight on their relationship between them, their art, and their public.
WHAT MAKES AN ARTIST?
A seemingly simple question, which sparks a complex and nuanced conversation.
GENEVIÈVE HAS
A Montrealer from Abitibi who moved to the Pontiac a few years ago. Geneviève Has is passionate about the arts in all its forms. She has been a translator, teacher, professor, and curator, among other things, and now devotes herself to community work, which allows her to explore her passions and become actively involved in the community.
Pontiac inspired is a CHIP 101,9 production. Host : Geneviève Has. Producer and photograph : Maxime Galand. Original music : Ketsa
