Stop in Val-David – Eva Halus (2)

Cornéliu Tocan25 iulie 2021

by Eva Halus

Val-David is an Algonquin territory, consisting in vast forests and lakes, rendering the landscape line just a few feet off the highway. These are the Laurentians, but Laurentians within Laurentians are today a pearls thread along the 117 highway, with a picturesque mending between the modern architecture and rich landscape. From Lachute – St Andrews East in the West, to Shawbridge (Prevost) in the South, to Ste Agathe-des-Monts in the North, we are in the true heartland of the Laurentians, as known to visitors.

I propose a few stops in Val-David: The International Festival for Writers and Artists, L’Atelier de l’Île – printing workshop, the Visual Arts Center, 1001 Pots Festival, Espace de – exhibition space situated in the main church of Val-David.

Meet Flavia Cosma, the Director of the Writers and Artists Residency, Paul Ballard – printing artist, Manon Regimbald – Director of the Visual Arts Center, Jeremiah Wall and Ivan-Denis Dupuis – musicians.

Val-David is a gemstone for artists from various disciplines: painters, sculptors, ceramists, poets and musicians.

Our first stop is on rue du Renard et du Corbeau (the fox and the crow) uphill street – that lively quotes a poem of the famous French fable-teller, Jean de La Fontaine. A bouquet of freshly-cut roses presides the International Festival for Writers and Artists, called Palabras en el Mundo (Words of the World). Arts and literature lovers from all over the world meet here twice a year at the International Residence for Writers and Artists, courtesy of Flavia Cosma, a writer and the Director of the Festival. An internationally renowned poet, with more than 30 books published in English, French, Spanish and Romanian, Flavia Cosma encourages emerging and professional writers and artists to manifest themselves through poetry readings, conferences and exhibitions. Here, the art of Euterpe meets the art of music; live music performances of local artists, Ivan-Denis Dupuis and Jeremiah Wall. The roses, cut from a neighbouring farm that is on sale, welcome the traveler and guaranty the originality of the place. Poetry is in the air… but this is not an isolated manifestation or happening… ”in the woods”. Just a few kilometers away, following the intricate paths through the forest, along the Rivière du Nord (North River), there are other people and places, sprouting their creative expressions.

The second stop is close to the main boulevard in Val-David, on René-Dufresne, in the core of the town. Few wooden steps up and a gentle knock on the door: Mr. Paul welcomes me at L’Atelier de l’Île Workshop, artists’ place with a tradition of 40 years in printmaking. The collective of about 20 permanent artists, Paul included, hosts exhibitions in all genres. They also accept artists in-residency and have an one month bursary available for applicants. Different prints adorn the rooms above printing presses.

Mr. Paul doesn’t talk much, but from his hands comes the expression of the surrounding nature and sometimes a piece of art says more than 100 words… The artworks of l’Atelier de l’Île are displayed in various galleries in the region, but the most important exhibitions are held at l’Éspace de l Église, the hall of the main church in Val-David.

The Visual Arts Center, located just in front of the church, is our next stop. Manon Regimbald, the Director of the Center, with a warm smile, is explaining to me that the center is welcoming the best Quebecoise artists. The center is disposed on two floors, making it possible to have two simultaneous exhibitions at the same time. The center opens the doors to different artistic venues in Val-David, including the International Writers and Artists Festival, for its closing ceremony. Their space can be used to hold small events like conferences, shows, etc. The center has strong ties with schools in the regions, giving visibility to children and families, playing an educational role in the lives of the community. They also hire college students with artistic skills for the summer, giving them an opportunity to learn and have a valuable working experience.

Further on, Val-David is renowned all over the world for the 1001 Pots Festival, organized by the Bonsecours Ceramic Center. There are thousands of ceramic objects to admire and buy, from different regions in the world, each with its specific characteristics, following the pottery traditions of each culture. The artisans are there to entertain, demonstrate craft making and sell their artifacts.

But what is a town without music? We call Val-David a town where music is made at home. There is the Theatre in Val-Morin (Val-David’s twin), where surely musicians can find a stage for performing, there are restaurants and bars, where local and international musicians perform, festivals, summoned up by live performance, but there are also many terraces in various households and big living rooms were you could hear the sound of music.

We go back to the beginning: the International Writers and Artists Festival… Jeremiah Wall and Ivan-Denis Dupuis are two musicians that never missed the Writers and Artists Festival, since they first came in. Both having their totally different styles, they are a hall-mark of the festival, along with Luis Raúl Calvo, who’s songs could be heard from a recording, from far-off Argentina; as much as poets and writers who make this place theirs and carry this place in their hearts wherever they go after, spreading the words of the poetry in the world… Ivan-Denis Dupuis, who’s first album La rose du temps (the Rose of Time), just saw the light, didn’t start playing guitar to become an author-composer-interpreter, but in order to join the love which is missing to all, so called common sense of love, giving voice to the wild, rebellious, revolted feelings that sleep in each of us. His songs are filled with tenderness and are truthful to nature and feelings. Jeremiah Wall, a song writer, poet and interpreter, born in the United States, is living with his whole family in Val-David. An early actor of the ‘90s renaissance of spoken-word, cabaret culture in Montreal, launched in 2012 an album called Cities – No Paradise!, praising the life close to nature from Val-David, where he can remember in peace the tumultuous life of the big metropolis. Now, they both became the unmistakable sound of festival, and I don’t doubt it, they give their special imprint to Val-David, and Val-David, with its birds and long silences, gives them the chance to create here, in a magic place.

The outdoors enthusiasts find here different other attractions. Val-David, as well as Val-Morin, are two resort-towns surrounded by the Regional Park, Dufresne Area. There are mountain bicycle trails covering more than 35 Km, well-tended by the Municipality. Also, each year a roundtrip of 100 km is organized from Val-David to Mont-Tremblant, called Velo-Tour des Pays d‘en Haut. There are more than 500 climbing trails for those who love the adventure, leading to magnificent views and more than 60 km hiking trails. An affordable amusement park for children, aged 2 to 8, in the Village de Père Noel (Santa Klaus village) opens all year round, but you have to check in advance for the schedule.

But, after all, you can’t say “Laurentians” and “Val-David” without mentioning the lakes, some wide enough to accommodate kayakers, motor boats, or, simply, to provide a swimming spot and a little beach for the amateurs. You can meet here the lonely bear and the lonely open-air painters… not to mention the wide range of birds, from Blue Jays and Woodpeckers to Cardinals and Martins.

For a complete map of Val-David and its surroundings, google “Val-David”, “Regional Park”, “Dufresne Area”, etc.

Also, once in Val-David, you can find an information booth, fully equipped with maps, information about hotels, restaurants, stores, spas, banks, etc. The information booth is located in the center of Val-David, slightly off the principal boulevard de l’Église.

(this article appeared in a New York on-line publication in 2016)