The fifth edition of Rosemère en Arts brought colour, creativity, and a strong sense of community to the town this past weekend, as artists and visitors gathered for a vibrant showcase of talent on June 6 and 7.
Held across the grounds of the Recreation Department building, Sainte Françoise Cabrini Church, and the H. J. Hemens Public Library, the event featured nearly sixty artists from across Quebec, including members of the Rosemère Artists Gathering (RAR).
Throughout the weekend, visitors explored a wide variety of works, from painting and sculpture to mixed media, while also engaging directly with the artists behind them.
A Growing Cultural Event
Over the years, Rosemère en Arts has become a key cultural fixture in the region, drawing both dedicated art enthusiasts and families looking for an accessible introduction to the arts.
Mayor Marie-Elaine Pitre emphasized the importance of the symposium in fostering both cultural appreciation and community engagement.
“Rosemère en Arts has become a must-see event in our cultural calendar. It’s an artistic gathering that draws a passionate and enthusiastic audience. I warmly invite you to this event celebrating art in its many forms. It’s a wonderful opportunity to discover local artists and celebrate spring!” said Pitre.
Nature inspires
Among the exhibitors was Rosemère-based artist Carole Laurence, a painter and ceramicist with more than 35 years of experience. Her work is deeply rooted in her connection to the natural world, especially through her love of animals and trees.
“I’m a painter and ceramicist that lives in Rosemere. Animals and trees speak to me a lot,” said Laurence.
Laurence’s pieces often feature layered textures and incorporate natural materials, giving her work a tactile and distinctive quality.
“Nature inspires me, but all my paintings or sculptures will have little pieces of wood attached to it,” she explained. “I even put little butterfly jewelry in my paintings whenever I can.”
Her work has been shown in Rosemère, Boisbriand, Ste-Rose, Hawkesbury, Paris and even as far away as Japan. By exhibiting her collection all around the world, it’s helped her build tangible connections.
“With all those places I’ve shown my work, I’ve been fortunate to make lots of friends there,” she said.
Laurence also highlighted the collaborative atmosphere of events like the symposium.
“It’s amazing to work with other artists, to perfect your craft and learn from them. Either I get inspired from the other artists or they get inspired from me. It’s a fantastic exchange.”
Capturing Light and Emotion
Painter Christine Claveau, from Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, approaches her work through a careful balance of observation and interpretation. Using her own photography as a starting point, she captures natural scenes that later evolve into expressive paintings.
“I draw inspiration from my own photography. I take a lot of pictures of flowers, especially in my backyard where I grow them myself. I’ve learned to wait for the right moment, because the light from the sun makes all the difference when capturing them,” she said.
Claveau then transforms those images, reshaping them into compositions that reflect both memory and emotion.
“After that, I add a background to create a bit of a countryside feel alongside something more human and lived in. I’m really drawn to the complementary colours.”
For Claveau, emotion plays a central role in the final work.
“For me, it’s really about looking for contrasts in the light. When I look at my photos, they awaken an emotion in me, and when I paint, my intention is to bring that emotion back to life.”
During the symposium, Claveau also gave visitors a glimpse into her creative process by sharing pages from her sketchbook. The pages included reference photographs taken in Terrebonne, along with notes, studies, and compositional adjustments that showed how she develops a scene from its original moment into a finished piece.
“I took part in a symposium in Terrebonne, and every time I go there, I have an amazing time. The atmosphere on the island is truly beautiful,” she said.
“One morning, on my way to the event, I took a photo, and when I looked at it later, I knew right away that I had to turn it into a painting.”
From that original image, she reworked the composition, introducing new elements and building the scene into something more personal.
“It’s a 30 by 40 piece. I incorporated some hollyhocks, adding a bit of ourselves into the scene.”
The finished work, titled Simple Moments Where the Earth is Good, Terrebonne, reflects both the physical setting and the memory attached to it, blending observation with artistic interpretation.
Claveau describes her artistic philosophy simply.
“Deep down, I see my work as the art of making light bloom.”
A Living Artistic Exchange
Throughout the weekend, the symposium emphasized interaction and accessibility, encouraging visitors to engage directly with artists. The result was an atmosphere that felt open, collaborative, and welcoming.
“Beyond the artworks themselves, we’re offering a genuine human connection: opportunities to talk with the artists, live demonstrations, and moments of discovery for the whole family,” said RAR President Caroline Foley. “This symposium is a vibrant space where art becomes accessible, unifying, and deeply human.”
Families also enjoyed a range of activities, including workshops and performances designed for younger audiences, reinforcing the event’s inclusive approach.
