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From June 18th, 2010 to April 17th, 2011
During his field studies throughout French-speaking North America, Jean-Claude Dupont collected hundreds of legends, recording them not only in compilations and other specialized publications, but also in his naïve paintings. This exhibition presents 100 legends, part of Quebec’s heritage, illustrated with paintings, reproductions and many related artifacts. Visitors can share Mr. Dupont’s fascination with Francophone and Native legends and customs. This exhibition is produced by Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, in partnership with the Musée québécois de culture populaire.
Jean-Claude Dupont: Saving memories
Jean-Claude Dupont was born in 1934, in Saint-Antonin (Rivière-du-Loup county), and grew up in the family general store. He studied in the Beauce, the Acadian regions of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and Université Laval, where he met Luc Lacourcière, who introduced him to field studies and archival research. Over the past 30 years, Mr. Dupont has produced or contributed to an impressive number of publications on tangible and intangible Francophone culture in North America. His unique approach, combining art and ethnology (he has created close to 400 paintings illustrating legends!), has led to many exhibitions in North America, Europe, Russia and even Japan. He has received a number of distinctions, including the Prix du Québec en patrimoine, recognizing the importance of his work in conserving and safeguarding Francophone heritage.
Since Mr. Dupont’s body of work comprises close to 400 paintings, and countless legends collected through his research, it was an enormous challenge to select the pieces and legends for this exhibition. The Museum decided to focus on the regions he visited in his field research and the themes and characters that occur most frequently in these legends.
Long before television and text messaging, there were legends
There are various sources of inspiration for the legends of French-speaking North America. The French colonists who settled in New France brought their ancestors’ tales with them, in addition to discovering the rich Native mythologies already present here. Legends persisted over the years because they answered a need, and long reflected people’s daily lives. While they had a basis in reality, they were embellished with fantastic details, and passed along for various reasons. They reassured people by explaining extraordinary natural phenomena, encouraged everyone to stick to the straight and narrow as dictated by the Church, strengthened the community, and added some magic and humour to people’s often arduous daily lives.
Nature often featured prominently in legends, along with religion and the omnipresence of good and evil. This duality was represented by many different characters, some good and some less desirable – including the indisputable star of the show, the Devil. These mythical figures turn up in the legends illustrated and recounted in the exhibition, with different artifacts providing context. The exhibition also examines legends inspired by actual historic events or other phenomena appealing to people’s imaginations. Lastly, it explores the legend of the flying canoe, or chasse-galerie, looking at the many versions and adaptations of this literary classic.
Invaluable recordings
During his field research, Jean-Claude Dupont recorded many people recounting stories passed down from one generation to the next, adding an appealing human touch to his work. The recordings show the extent to which legends are part of the cultural heritage specific to a region and its inhabitants. Visitors can listen to storytellers explaining how the Devil served as a notary, or the time a werewolf was spotted licking someone’s window. There are also musical excerpts, including a fiddler’s reel and a lament recounting the legend of “the abducted bride.” These recordings were made over 40 years ago, during a series of research trips. They are now kept in the folklore and ethnology archives at Université Laval, the only such collection relating to Francophone culture in North America.
Profession: legend collector
An ethnologist studies the intangible and material culture of a society, collecting information of all kinds on traditions, lifestyles and culture in bygone times. Jean-Claude Dupont has done an exceptional job of safeguarding memories, thanks to his superb observation and analytical skills. With his meticulous field research and rigorous data-collection methods, he has bequeathed us a tremendously valuable body of knowledge. The exhibition also salutes his skills as an artist, showcasing his naïve paintings that reveal his great sensitivity. The vibrant, colourful works are sure to enchant and charm visitors.
Come discover the Francophone and Native legends of North America. Do your part to preserve collective memories!
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