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group organisation | premise organisation | studio influence | mandat

Group organisation Some sculptors studied sculpture together, in the same studio, listening to the same professor. Their passion for the same material, stone, already brought them close one to the other. Since the medium implies high costs, these sculptors chose to share time and resources. One first project intended, during winter 1981, to produce large sculptures that would then be installed in Trois-Rivieres parks. Subsidies that would have made the project possible were denied. Meetings and discussions had however shaped a team spirit. In June 1983, this complicity, this shared work, these exchanges of ideas find a more formal frame. The SILEX STUDIO inc comes into existence according to the 3rd part of the Quebec law on companies. The following members signed the request: (from left to right) Jean-Marie Gagnon, Marcel Faucher, Roger Gaudreau, Francis Brillant, Jean Lebel, Denis Matte et Pierre Aubin. The legal frame is now imposing a more formal working method. A board of trustees is regularly elected, presided over by: Jean-Marie Gagnon 1983-1987 Roger Gaudreau 1987-1989 Jean-Marie Gagnon 1989-1991 Marquis Poulin 1991-1993 Louise Lafremière 1993-1995 Guylaine Champoux 1995-1997 Jean-Marie Gagnon 1997- 0...3/4 galery. Graham Cantieni exibition, november 1997.

Premise organisation When they were setting up their working place, the sculptors shared the same concept of defined by materials, machines, tools and equipments, what required large enough spaces allowing the sculpture to come to being. Silex members prefered to settle downtown since other artistic producers had already settled there and because the consumers would find more easily their way. Researches, investigations, visits lead to the discovery of a very convenient place located at 1095 of Rue Père Frederic. This old fruits and vegetables warehouse offered large rooms, well isolated walls, a concrete floor and an industrial wharf. A first renting lease is signed on September 1983. Production starts in october, installation in November. The official opening, in September 1984, invited a surprised and impressed public to an open house and to an exhibition. Silex was born. The Trois-Rivieres artistic vitality will from now on count on its contribution. The sculptors are still tenants. In June 1987, Silex becomes owner of a building that it occupies on the ground floor with a studio for stone carving, one for woodworking and in the basement with one for metalworks and for glass. After 15 years, Silex completely occupies the 3 levels of its building with works on stone, on wood, on metal and on glass, with studios leased to artists whose creative field remains out of the sectors served by Silex, with a space for diffusing and experimenting present art. Since January 1990, a program supporting access to employment make it possible to leave some administraative jobs to a coordinator. During all these years the concept of sculpture evolved. SILEX memvers do not confine themselves to the sole material processing. Aconsern for space is predominance, for the installation. At the down of year 2000, the ATELIER SILEX, inc. remains a center for production but the processing of stone, wood, glass or metals is no more an exclusive consern. More over SILEX is intersted in the diffusion through its multi-fonctional room Espace 0...3/4.

Studio influence The presence in Trois-Rivieres of a sculptors grouping helped to retain in the area a larger number of artists and, this way, enriched the cultural milieu of Trois-Rivieres. Silex helped individuals, cooperated with artistic events and ran over the local frame by offering a very significant contribution to the two realizations of the Canadian Mosaic Symposium, held at Orford Arts Center, by welcoming members of U.R.A.V. (Unit of Research in Visual Arts) for an intensive workshop on a research on the measurable space. Members took their contribution and spread the name of Silex to United States, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Scotland, exhibiting their works, following or giving a workshop. The "Monument aux poètes inconnus", at Alphonse Piché place, Trois-Rivières, 1994. With years, Silex developed an expertise in the public art area. An impressing number of works issued from the law on the integration of work of arts to architecture and to environment (1% law) have been realized in Silex studios. At Silex, promotors of the international poetry festival find associates who spread through the city plaques quoting our poets, find sculptors able to build the monument to the unknown poet. At Silex, some come to ask for an advice on the bracing of a mural or the fixing of a scale model. Since 1995, the technical knowledge in respect to the production of a work of art allow the opening of a sector more concentred on research and on the discursive content of the work.That is why SILEX set up lectures, workshop artists in residence and special events programs in order to enlarge its field and to question the sculpture concept. So Guy Blackburn where guest lecturers, Gilles Mchalcea were guest artists as Maliu Ming were artist in residence. SILEX also participates in special projects like "Le silence des armes" with the fondation of the same name of the CD "L'âme des draveurs et des radeleirs" showin André Fournelle's project in the magazine "Le SABORD" launched in Paris at the book show during the Quebec springtime 1999.

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ATELIER SILEX / Espace 0...3/4, 1095, rue Père-Frédéric, Trois-Rivières (Québec), G9A 3S5, Téléphone: 819.379.0121, FAX: 819.379.4820, courriel: silex@oculiartes.org

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