Madelaine Lemire

CONT’D

the hope that comes in beauty,” he said, adding that, “there is a lot of energy going into the question of how to reinvent the main street.”

According to Lemire, the pop-up gallery has become the first concrete manifestation of a local initiative to “wake up” the town centre and make it a place where people can gather and enjoy themselves.

“People come out of here saying change is possible” he said, with Lemire adding that part of the point of the project is to get the area out of what is perceived as a funk and bring it back to life as the heart of the community. “What we want to do is show that the entire Richmond region can become a tourist destination,” he continued, using the term “le pays de l’ardoise” or “Slate country” as a kind of buzz word for the region.

In an effort to get people in the community dreaming in the same way, Frey said that the gallery space has been hosting gatherings, but he also pointed out that even the people living and working in Richmond who haven’t been by to visit are likely familiar with Lemire’s work at this point because it is the subject of the new artistic banners that have been put up by the town.

“The town wanted an artist from Richmond to create the banners that can be seen around town,” the painter said, explaining that there was a desire on the part of the municipal council to keep colourful flowers in the downtown without the cost of maintaining actual flower pots every summer.

The artist said that she was approached about creating the banners after she was featured in a project booklet put together by Frey having to do with making the community friendly to seniors.

“I’m pleased,” she added.

Lemire’s current exhibition continues until September 15, but she shared that as long as the building remains available another group of local artists is due to set up in the gallery space in October. In the long term, she said, the dream is to be able to open up some kind of full-time gallery space in Richmond so that the artistic spirit of the community can continue to have a space to offer inspiration to others.

“We’re starting small,” she said, “and we’re open to suggestions.”