COATICOOK : The Beaulne Museum of Coaticook is pleased to present the exhibition « Laberge et la mer », by artist Marlène Laberge from April 7 – June 2, 2013. The public and the press are cordially invited.

Marlène Laberge was born in Sainte-Foy in 1970. She completed her training in graphic arts at the “Cégep de Sainte-Foy” in 1990 and moved to Montreal in 1997. In 2002, Marlene participated in several training courses at the “Centre des arts Saidye Bronfman” of Montreal. In July 2004, she left her job and became a freelance writer in order to concentrate on her painting. During autumn 2005, she unveiled her first solo exhibition named “Impulsions”. In May 2006, she presented “La Grèce, ma muse” at la galerie du Tracel du Centre d’art Maison Blanchette, in Cap-Rouge.

Then, in the summer of 2009, Marlene left for two months for London and participated in several courses at the London University of the Arts. Inspired by her travels, her exhibition “Nature libre” was presented at the “Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges” in the summer of 2010. Then, at the Boréart, Centre d’exposition en arts visuels de Granby in the spring of 2011. In the fall of 2012, Marlene started part-time studies to attain her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at Concordia University. During the spring of 2013, the artist began presenting her excursions on the edge of the seas with “Laberge et la mer” which will soon be presented at the Centre d'exposition de Repentigny.

Since 2005, Marlène Laberge’s artistic approach has highlighted the notion of landscape which she considers to act as a bridge between human and nature. She travels in order to find places, sites and landscapes which she documents using sketches and photographs. Her journeys along the European and Quebec shores are her main source of inspiration. She is particularly interested in what these intangible places reveal, interpreting the movement of the waves and the wind as well as the stillness of the rocks. Her creative process focuses on the deconstruction of reality, drawing, purifying and freeing herself from the constraints of realism.

Each painting represents a fragment of her visual and emotional memory. Thus, in order to develop each one, she draws as much from the formal visual structure observed in a place (such as the horizon, the shape of boulders or the movements of the sea) as her perception and emotions that are created. Her paintings vary in formats and she favours the use of mixed media (acrylic, graphite, dry and oil pastel, ink and pencil) on a variety of media such as canvas, paper, or wood.

The Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women, and the City of Coaticook financially support the Beaulne Museum of Coaticook. Special thanks go to the Caisse populaire Desjardins Green-summits in the Eastern Townships for their financial contribution.

Information : 819-849-6560