Ocean memories on canvas

BY HOLLIE WATSON



From his seminal days as an artist, Daniel Gautier’s vision was shaped by his fascination with the sea, its untold legends and its mystical depths. Throughout his long career, the Hudson artist has effectively captured that passion on canvas, the ocean having become an intrinsic element of his body of works.

In part it’s the ocean’s constancy that inspires him, he reflected.

Despite the tread of time, “the sea never changes; it’s always there,� he said, adding that being close to the sea “gives me a sense of renewal.�

For the month of November, La Muse galerie d’art will host a solo exhibition featuring Gautier’s artworks entitled, Memoire d’Atlantique.

“There are about 50 pieces in all, half of which are paintings in oil; the other half is engravings,� he said, adding many of the pieces are characterized by a ‘’surrealistic� undertone.

He uses colours “which reflect the purity of a region where nothing hides the light.�

Gautier first became enamored of the sea while still a youth, after visiting the Magdalen Islands in 1970. He went on to study extensively in Canada and Europe, and was soon participating in prestigious group and solo exhibitions across the Maritimes, in Quebec, and the United States.

The year 1993 marked the fulfillment of a dream, when Gautier opened up a successful studio and gallery in the islands.

Although he sold the gallery last year, Gautier still spends several months a year in the Maritimes, where he also founded a visual arts centre and has led a series of symposiums. His paintings are currently part of a major five-year touring exhibition on an Acadian theme; l’artCADIE visited France 2004. His works can be found in public collections that include the National Assembly and the federal ministries of Indian Affairs and Natural Resources.

“In spring I’ll be holding an exhibition in Massachusetts, and next summer I’ll be doing a large solo show in Charlottetown,� said Gautier, who is also a member of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Cultural Council.

A vernissage for Memoire d’Atlantique was held on Sunday at la Muse, which opened in Hudson village last year and showcases professional artists from different regions of the province. The exhibit continues until Nov. 30 at 455 Main Rd. For more information, call 450-458-1895 or visit www.danielgautier.ca.">www.danielgautier.ca.">www.danielgautier.ca.