Page 162 - ART GIANTS issue of World of Art (WOA) Contemporary Art Magazine
P. 162
EXIT 79: GRANDPARENT’S LANE, 2015, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM. PIPE UP ABOUT AGING, 2019, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM.
FINE ART CULTURE SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS, DAD, 2017, COLLAGE, WATERCOLOUR AND MIXED MEDIA 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM. MOM IT’S TIME WE PLACE YOU, 2020, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM.
WE PLACE THINGS, NOT PEOPLE!, 2020, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 18 X44 IN. | 47.7X111.8 CM.
DARN STAIRS!, 2017, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, 2019, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM.
MAKING COOKIES WITH GRANDMA, 2019, COLLAGE AND WATERCOLOUR 22 X18 IN. | 55.9X47.7 CM.
MARIE-CLAUDE GIGUÈRE
Lives and works in Montréal, Québec, Canada
https://helpingseniors.ca/grandmas-place
text but powerful visual statements that stand on their own
in art galleries and community spaces. These illustrations
challenge viewers to rethink the language they use when
discussing seniors. Her artistic process is deeply personal
and interdisciplinary. She combines her love for sculpting and
pottery with a passion for drawing and painting, developing a
unique style. This style was further honed during an intensive
drawing marathon with Melissa Meyer at the New York Studio
School in 2014, where she discovered collage as her preferred
medium to translate her visions onto paper. The collage
technique blended her passions as the ripped edges of the
paper offer a softness as well as an invitation to explore all the
details of hidden messaging in her art, paralleling the details
she wishes we pay attention to when a senior faces a change in
their autonomy.
The result is a series of thirty-six illustrations, of which eight
are showcased here. These pieces are described as charming,
colorful, and impactful, designed to travel beyond the pages of
Marie-Claude Giguère, an artist based in Montréal, Québec, her book to create broader societal change. Her works, such
has undertaken a powerful mission to revolutionize the way as See You In 2 Weeks Dad and Making Cookies with Grandma,
we discuss aging and senior care. Her poignant message is have received the prestigious Mercedes Matter Award from
captured in her children's book, Grandma’s Place, which bears the New York Studio School, highlighting the significance and
the significant motto: "Aging: Our Words Matter." During a impact of her art.
conversation with George, Marie-Claude was moved by his
phrase “place his parents,” which seemed to reduce his parents
to mere objects. She passionately responded, “George, it is
not about ‘putting’ or ‘placing’ your parents anywhere. They
are not objects. Using those words fills everyone with guilt. It
is about helping them to find options, explore solutions, and
adapt at home or decide to move.” This conversation propelled
her into action, inspiring her to find the most effective means of
spreading her message.
Marie-Claude chose to focus on children, believing they are
free from the negative language and stigma often associated
with aging. By educating the young, she aims to foster a
generation that approaches seniors with empathy and respect.
Her journey into children's literature was driven by the desire
to make the topic engaging for readers of all ages. Her book,
Grandma’s Place, uses vibrant illustrations to capture young
readers' imaginations while delivering an important message.
The images in this book are not just accompaniments to the
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