Marie-Hélène Comeau

Riopelle, the artist on the wing of a northern migration

Forty creative art kits based on the theme of migration and inspired by Jean Paul Riopelle’s work Tribute to Rosa Luxemburg have been sent to 40 Francophones and Francophiles living in Yukon. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Association franco-yukonnaise and the Aurore boréale newspaper, they have been invited to use the materials in the kits to illustrate their story of migration to Yukon from the place they came from. The individual projects will be gathered together and exhibited at the Riverside Art Festival in Dawson City in early June, then in Whitehorse on June 24 during the Saint-Jean-Baptiste holiday. In May and June, art workshops based on the migration theme will also be held for various Franco-Yukon community organizations, including the Garderie du petit cheval blanc and Les Essentielles and at the day camp. Lastly, book creation workshops (water colours, collages and creative writing) that explore Franco-Yukon migration stories will also be held on the exhibition dates.

Participants can use the art kits, which are designed for people living throughout Yukon, to create their artwork at home by compiling dialogues about their migration story with their family members and friends. The workshops will make it possible to share these stories with a wider audience and the general public.

To date, the project has been a great success with the Franco-Yukon community. The kits were all taken in less than a week. People like to share their stories as well as talk about their relationship with Riopelle’s works. Reference books about the artist are always on hand at the workshops and consulted on a regular basis.

Yukon organizations are looking forward to hosting the next workshops and a second Yukon exhibition date for the 40 artworks will be scheduled during the project.

In just a few weeks, the project has already prompted Yukon residents, the majority of whom were born outside the territory, to reflect on, share and listen to their migration stories. The project encourages dialogue through the creative art process.

Important dates in 2023 📅

• May 9 → Parents & kids sessions, Whitehorse (at Les essentielles, a nonprofit organization) – Open to all
• May 17, 18 and 19 →  Sessions for the children and staff of le Petit Cheval Blanc, a francophone daycare
• June 2 to June 4 → Yukon Riverside Art festival in Dawson city – First vernissage of the 40 works of Franco-Yukon migration stories. An art workshop on the subject of Yukon migration will also be offered on site during the event – Open to all
• June 19 and 20, 22 and 23 → Francophone daycamp sessions
• June 24 → Opening : artworks exhibition (Association franco-yukonnaise’ 40th anniversary) – Open to all