A unique intergenerational art project has brought together young people and amateur painters to create stunning murals depicting the maritime history of Anse à Rodrigue and its fishing heritage. The large-format paintings, which represent over a year of collaborative work, were unveiled on Saturday, September 20th, during European Heritage Days and are currently on display at the salt flats of Yellow Waves and Les Zigotos until Sunday evening.
"It's really beautiful what you've done!" This unanimous reaction greeted visitors discovering the frescoes of Anse à Rodrigue, created by about twenty young people from the Youth and Popular Education Association (AJEP), amateur artists, and local elders. The paintings capture the vibrant life of the bay with its traditional fishing boats called doris and the bustling maritime activity that once defined the area.
The project was conceived by Henri-Paul Artur, who drew inspiration from similar initiatives at the salt flats of Quiberon. "I wanted to showcase the history of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon through large-format paintings, and I wanted this to be shared with young people," Artur explained. His vision was to create something that would bridge generations while preserving local maritime traditions.
Julie Urbanabia, a 17-year-old participant who is both the daughter and granddaughter of fishermen and a member of AJEP, described the project's focus: "We wanted to represent life at Anse à Rodrigue, which was very lively with the doris and fishing." Her family connection to the fishing industry provided authentic insight into the scenes being depicted on canvas.
The collaborative effort brought together AJEP and the plastic arts section of the local high school, with support and funding from the Cultural Affairs Mission of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Approximately twenty young people and adults, including amateur artists, gathered around historical photographs and massive canvases to bring the area's maritime heritage to life.
Sixteen-year-old Adrian found the intergenerational exchange particularly enriching: "It was great to talk with the elders. They told us lots of anecdotes and about the tools they used." This sharing of memories and experiences became a central element of the creative process, with older participants contributing detailed knowledge of historical maritime practices.
Claude Poirier, an amateur painter who grew up in Langlade at Anse aux Soldats, experienced a flood of childhood memories while working on the project. "Until I was 14-15 years old, I knew all of this: the capstans, the doris. I was in my element, I knew what I was painting," she recalled. Details came back to her as she painted, including specific elements like a virgin statue at the bottom of a boat, which she added to enhance the authenticity of the scenes.
For Poirier, this marked her first experience painting on such a large canvas. "We all gave each other advice. The method for reproducing the ropes, that was my suggestion," she noted, highlighting the collaborative learning aspect of the project. The group included both experienced painters like Jean-Claude Girardin, Denis Garnier, and Denise Télétchéa, as well as complete novices like Adrian and project initiator Henri-Paul Artur.
Artur humorously reflected on his learning curve: "I had as much paint on my fingers as on the brush." Adrian won't soon forget the challenge of painting thousands of small stones, discovering that the technique was more difficult than it appeared. This mix of skill levels created an environment where everyone could learn from each other while contributing to the collective work.
The artistic process involved projecting photographs onto the large canvases, sketching outlines, and then applying paint with brushes. Throughout the project, participants had to coordinate their efforts carefully to avoid interfering with each other's work on the shared canvases. The collaborative nature required constant communication and teamwork to achieve the final result.
The impressive final paintings will continue their journey beyond the current exhibition. They are scheduled to be displayed at the maritime station in November, with possible future exhibition at the aerodrome. Their ultimate destination will be the exterior walls of the salt flats at Anse à Rodrigue, where they will serve as permanent reminders of the area's rich maritime heritage for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
