Captivating immersion at Centre d’art populaire du Québec 

The fascinating Centre d’art populaire du Québec is tucked away in the country lanes of Plaisance. Unique in the Outaouais region, this former presbytery has been converted into a cultural space, piquing your curiosity with its very own universe. It’s a living center showcasing the works of over 25 folk artists, i.e. artists who have had no formal artistic training. As soon as you step inside, you know you’re in a place apart! 

What is folk art?

Folk art is an intuitive art form based on personal experience, without constraints or established rules. The Centre d’art populaire du Québec brings together a wide variety of artistic practices, including painting, sculpture, pottery, sewing, woodcarving and much more. It’s a showcase for local artists, giving them the chance to share their work and bring it to life for the public. The facility helps to showcase local talent. 

Complete immersion in art

It’s a warm day as I arrive at the Centre d’art populaire du Québec without really knowing what to expect, thinking I’ll just see works of art. I expect to see paintings, common objects or plaster sculptures. As soon as I pull into the parking lot, I realize that the experience will be anything but ordinary. 

Outdoor Art

Outside, a huge sculpture by Michel Therrien catches my eye: a life-size canoe paddled by buccaneers. This is the same artist behind the many sculptures at Parc Omega.  

On the roof, a metal violinist seems to watch over the place. Several events are planned for this outdoor space in the coming months. The winding sidewalk leading to the entrance will be painted blue to evoke water, and the violinist on the roof will be animated, as if accompanying the sailors with his music. 

As you walk towards the main entrance, you’ll see several works created from recycled materials, such as chains made from beer corks. 

As you enter the center, you can already sense that this is going to be a special experience! The ceiling is covered in moss, forming veritable clouds, and in the distance, large sculptures immediately catch the eye. 

Let us guide you

We follow Céleste’s little steps as she leads us through the various rooms. Céleste is a curious young girl who this year acts as a fictional guide to the exhibition. Let her little steps on the floor guide you. These will lead you to the various rooms where you’ll discover the works. 

The universe of Raymond Leroux

We first enter Raymond Leroux’s world, where the room is filled with numerous small articulated characters. The artist has made a replica of the village of characters created by his grandfather. The sculptures are full of detail. The center plans to make the room even more immersive by adding light effects on the characters, who will start singing to create the effect of a large concert.  

The enchanted forest

I continue my way, following in Celeste’s footsteps to an enchanted forest populated by birds. You can hear the birds singing! It’s like entering a magical forest. The walls are covered with superimposed trees, with moving animation bringing the room to life. The room is filled with little bird sculptures. They look so real!  

The world of Dominique Ehrmann

We literally step inside a life-size quilt, where mysterious sounds resonate. The room is dark and inhabited by a giant tree at the center of the set. A spider hangs from it, its thread extending all the way to little Céleste. It’s like being immersed in one of those fairy tales you read as a child. The work is still evolving and continues to be transformed every week. 

Marc Demers’s creations

I then cross several rooms before seeing the works of Marc Demers. Here, everything is in miniature! He uses toothpicks to depict small figures amid outdoor activity. There’s even a tiny sculpture of a man climbing a rock face, held in place by a real hair used as a rope. The workmanship and detail are remarkably meticulous!  

The final exhibition

I fell in love with the final exhibition, located in the basement. It’s anything but ordinary! As you enter, the room comes alive: colored lights come on everywhere, noisy mechanisms start up and everything in the four corners of the room begins to move. Welcome to the world of Florent Veilleux. He describes his exhibition as “a phantasmagorical thing that you won’t be able to see anywhere else in the world, other than in Quebec”, and that’s saying something! The artist couldn’t conceive of so many objects ending up in the garbage, so he decided to make art out of them. Each of the works has its own humorous connotation and is well worth a look. 

Many other discoveries

No matter when you visit, from the moment it opens or later in the season, the experience will never be quite the same. Several rooms come to life before your very eyes: works of art come to life, settings are transformed, and you are invited to plunge into a highly creative and sensory universe. The center is constantly evolving, adding new activities and surprises throughout the summer.  

A small bistro will also open just opposite the Centre d’art populaire du Québec. You’ll be able to round off your visit with a delicious meal!

The establishment immerses you in an extraordinary universe that will appeal to young and old alike! You must experience it to really understand it. Let yourself be transported into an artistic world where the imagination is king. No words can really do justice to this unique universe! 

And if there’s a work that particularly appeals to you, there’s a store at the end of the tour where you can take home a little piece of this unique universe.+ 

Extend the day in Petite Nation with a host of activities along the way!