Artist couple sharing wall space in the Townships
Cowansville-based artist Kevin Sonmor and his wife France Jodoin currently have a joint exhibition mounted at the Yvonne L. Bombardier cultural center in Valcourt.
Both artists have substantial experience showing in museums in galleries around the world, and have shown together more than once even though as artists, they work independently.
A self-described student of art history, Sonmor has over 30 years of painting experience under his belt.
The Alberta-born artist described his paintings as a blend of old and new, exploring society and its constructs.
“It’s hard to explain. If I knew what to say, it’d be writing, not painting!” he laughed. “The best way to put it would be to say that my work is very contemporary, but using old techniques.”
Gallery goers will be able to feast their eyes on life-sized paintings of horses, with huge seven-foot-tall canvases, still-life pieces and landscapes. Though Sonmor used to dabble in the rodeo scene back in Alberta, he said that the horses he once rode and the art he makes today have little to do with one another.
“It’s something I know, something I’m familiar with,” he explained. “I’m not a horse painter. If you asked me to draw a horse, I wouldn’t know where to start. Your entire life affects you, but I don’t paint as a release. I’m fully a studio painter. My art is rooted in history, with contributions from my imagination.”
On July 1, the Régie du logement will respond to requests for information from tenants and landlords as, in Quebec, the majority of residential leases end on June 30, resulting in many moves every year. Although July 1 is a public holiday, situations requiring prompt answers may arise. During this busy day, the Régie du logement will be available to respond diligently to the inquiries.
The Régie’s Telephone Information Service employees may be contacted on July 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note that there will be a reduction in the number of staff on duty and that there will be no service provided at the counters of the various Régie offices. Offices will re-open Monday, July 3 at the usual times.
To reach the Régie by telephone, call 1 (800) 683-2245.
Rights and obligations
The Régie du logement is reminding the public that the right of a new tenant to occupy the premises begins on the first day of the lease. The former tenant does not have a "grace day" to clear the place and remove effects from the dwelling. He is also obliged to return the dwelling to the condition in which it was received.
In some cases, circumstances will cause the removal of the outgoing tenant not to be completed before the arrival of the new occupant. In this case, the outgoing tenant must give access to the unit to the new tenant. It is suggested that one or, if possible, several rooms be freed in order to allow the new tenants to place their effects.
The landlord has an obligation to deliver the unit in good condition and on the agreed-upon date. It may be useful to check the condition of the premises after the departure of the former tenant. It would also be wise to establish the terms of the move by coordinating the efforts of the new and former tenants. The Régie encourages everyone to show courtesy and good citizenship by exercising their rights in a reasonable manner.
The Régie is also reminding the public that the Interactive Voice Response System and the Régie du logement website (www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca) is always available to provide accurate and relevant information on the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords.
The Régie du logement has exclusive jurisdiction in Quebec in the area of rental housing.
Sonmor’s exhibit, Nomads, Players and Saints at the Yvonne L. Bombardier cultural center is complimented by his wife’s collection, called The Other Landscape. The couple, however, have no collaborative pieces.
“We work in separate studios,” said Sonmor. He explained that Jodoin works at home, where the third floor of their home is a massive studio just for her. He on the other hand, has a studio a few miles away, in a nearby town. “We are continually conscious and observant of each other’s work, but even if there are similarities in our styles, we have entirely different viewpoints.”
Both artists are renowned around the world for their art. Jodoin has been showing her work in museums and galleries throughout Canada, the United States and in Europe for 15 years. This is not the first time they have shown together in the Townships; they previously held a joint exhibition at the Musée des beaux arts in Sherbrooke. They also have a shared gallery in Atlanta.
Townshippers who wish to see Sonmor and Jodoin’s work can do so until August 20 at the Yvonne L. Bombardier cultural center in Valcourt.