Upon arrival at Armand Destroismaison’s place it is
evident that a sculptor is at work here. Two large, already
chiselled,
stones are placed in front of his stonework studio at the bottom of the
hill. Looking up one sees a splendid display of very tall metal
creations towering over a rosebush pathway by a marvellous rock
garden. This first view tells you right away what Armand is all
about!
The
three-roofed façade structure that Armand built this summer explains his
name “Destroismaisons”.
Love and respect for nature in all its forms
and the constant need to create art objects that tell us we live in a
precious world that needs to be cherished, and protected. Armand is an
artist who loves Mother Earth, its elements and its people. He
generously imparts this love and his ideas of how to improve man’s
existence in this world. Yes, he is an environmentalist and is
concerned with ecology and, universality. He endeavours to sensitize us
to the dangers of consumerism and globalization as these are presently
exercised. Cherishing each day for the gift of life, Armand erected
Circa -Temps d’une Journée, a bronze-covered monument seen at
the top of his rock garden.
Combining
different materials – Steel, wood, acrylic (Plexiglas) and, ceramics
Armand generates a sense of connection with each element. In
Panerogamme -(Panero=visible, Gamos=marriage.) he is using
static, seemingly lifeless forms to pay homage to plant life. The
suspended ceramic cone-like shapes represent antibodies protecting
plants from harms way.
Another example of describing life with rigid hard
elements is “Au sein de mon éspace”, stone encased within
metal – contradiction and synergy. The stone part made me want to
caress a belly with its embryo. Armand’s capacity to transform found
objects into living testimonials that generate warm sensations is
absolutely mind-boggling.
Demon du Midi,
is a mask-like work-in-progress. It reveals Armand’s
warm sense of humour. At present it is a bearded masculine form.
However, it will be transformed to feminine. Armand explains that
Lucifer was a female demon (Lucie), thus the statue will have
roses in its hair! Roses are Armand’s passion. He attributes roses
with life-enhancing forces. There are 300 different kinds of roses in
the garden surrounding his house and (3) studios
(In addition to the stone studio, an old barn serves as his wood and
metal shop and, an open-air shelter overlooking Lake St. Marie, is where
he works in the summer to the sound of music.)
Lupanar,
is made of bicycle pads, Car motor valve, stocking hangers, mattress
springs and a face made of clay. This made me think of a biblical
goddess yet made me laugh with Armand who thinks that humour is quite
necessary in art. Yet he does not shy away from dealing with pain.
Albatross
is a wooden sculpture that talked to me about physical hurt and pain.
This form stands there so lonely and when you get closer, you see the
injuries carved in wood.
Le Grand-Brûlé,
(no photo) deals with the excruciating pain experienced by a 90% burn
victim. A friend of his spent 6 months covered in a dome while
undergoing grafting surgery. The sculpture is made of leather stretched
with screws over various rounded forms and a glass dome.
Armand’s
response to the 9/11 disaster, “À la recherche de la
paix” describes the 5 continents, a missile and, a heart that is
not yet open to accept love and peace.
His 3.40x1.24m Migration, (no photo
available) which was displayed in front of the Morin
Heights Library during Route des Arts, is another structure of metal and
wood dealing with the hardships of humans and animals due to change.
Armand always has at least 4 or 5 pieces in progress.
Some are large- scale (3.5 meters) some small (10 cm), and in different
materials. This way he keeps changing his physical activity, while his
ideas galvanize. The round-topped Cadran solaire, sundial
(seen in the middle of the garden) is almost finished. Au Jour Le
Jour will reach to the skies with the four-seasons
for which he prepared 365 ceramic bells each marked with the date, will
be completed shortly.
Armand
has been a member (and past president) of the Lions club of St. Adolphe
d’Howard a club helps people with visual problems for the past 25
years. He is also the president of the Quebec Sculpture Council. (Image
shown here is Kaleidoscope, now exhibited at Christ Church
for the duration of Route des Arts 2004.)
In the past Armand has dabbled in watercolours, aquatint
prints, drawings and paintings. Some of these creations are still in
the house. The house he lives in since 1978 was built in 1820. Armand
transported it from St. Gervais (in the Bellechasse County near Lévis).
He made repairs and, added a sun porch on which he can relax with a beer
and enjoy the wonderful sight and smell of his invigorating rose-garden.
