Printmaking in Val David: L’Atelier de L`ile 40th Anniversary Celebration

Last month I had the luck of discovering LÀtelier de L`ile, a wonderful artists cooperative that has been based in Val David, in the heart of the Laurentians for the past 40 years.

The artist-run centre supports and promotes not only printmaking but all contemporary artistic practices including digital arts, painting, sculpture, photography, writing,and poetry as well as installation and performance art.Founded in 1975 by Michel-Thomas Tremblay, the artist-run centre celebrated its 40th anniversary by recreating the orginal performance done by Tremblay called “Fair Impression au Rouleau Compressure” at the Musee dàrt contemporain de Montreal in 1983.

Twenty students from the Print Media Program at Concordia University along with 20 artists from the Atelier de L`ile created intricate prints by using a steam roller as the printmaking machine of choice. The crowds that turned out at the Val David Train Station were fascinated by the labour intensive process that produced dozens of prints during the Saturday afternoon. Various businesses and restaurants throughout the village exhibited many of the prints done over the years by the Centre.

Here are some photos of the afternoon and a glimpse into the printmaking process. For more photos and information on the day and the group you can find out more at http://atelier.qc.ca/