ROBERT-ÉMILE FORTIN
written by Gaston Therrien



DATE AND BIRTH PLACE:

Robert-Emile Fortin was born December 19, 1945 in Hull, Quebec, Canada.

TRAINING:

- University of Ottawa (Arts) 1968 to 1970
- Ottawa's Algonquin College 1971 (graphic)
- Ottawa School of Art 1973 (painting)
- Ottawa School of Art 1988 (drawing)

GRANTS:

- Ontario Arts Council 1976 and 1977

TEACHING:

- Painting workshops in many primary and high schools in the Ottawa/Hull
  region in 1976 and 1977, also from 1979 to 1981
- Silkscreen workshops at Kinshasa's Fine Art Academy in Zaïre, 1985
- Painting and silkscreen classes at the artist's studio
- Television classes for Rogers Cable vision in Ottawa: 13 hours in
  1993 and 11 hours in 1994 (available on video tapes)

VARIA:

- Founder in 1985 of a special art fund to help Zaïrian artists

PUBLICATION:

- Fortin, Robert-Emile -"Comment devenir artiste peintre professionnel",
  1993, 100 pages.

ILLUSTRATIONS:

- "Comment devenir artiste-peintre professionnel", by Robert-Emile Fortin,
  100 pages illustrated, 1993.
- "Le traîneau du Père Noël" by Lise-Anne Pilon-Delorme, Editions Pierre
  de Lune, 1994. Winner of a contest for the illustration of this
  children tale with 10 paintings. Official launching at the National
  Gallery of Canada with the exhibition of the paintings in December
  1994.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bruens, Louis - "Investir dans les oeuvres d'art", Editions La Palette,
  Montreal, 1988, p. 203.
Comeau, André - "Artistes plasticiens" Dictionary, Edition Bellarmin,
  Montreal, 1983, p. 100.
De Roussan, Jacques - "Hull et sa peinture", Roussan Editeur Inc.,
  1990, p. 64 to 67. 
Magazin'Art, Edition internationale, "Les peintres naïfs - Robert-Emile
  Fortin" 4th year, no. 2, Winter 1991, p. 31.
Robert, Guy - "Robert-Emile Fortin", Le Collectionneur (art magazine),
  Vol. VII, no. 26, Spring 1990, p. 58 to 60.
Robert Guy - "Le pluralisme dans l'art au Québec", Ed. CAPSQ, 1998;
Therrien, Gaston - "Robert-Emile Fortin", Editions Marcel Broquet,
  SIGNATURE Collection , 1989, 104 pages.
Therrien, Gaston - "Robert-Emile Fortin - The Technocrats", 1999,
  Electronic Brochure with 20 works.
Therrien, Gaston - "Robert-Emile Fortin - Naive Artist", 2000,
  Electronic Brochure with 16 works.
Therrien, Gaston - "Robert-Emile Fortin" - Abstractions and
  communications", 2000, Electronic Brochure with 16 works.
Therrien, Gaston - "Robert-Emile Fortin" - Abstractions and
  communications (2)", 2000, Electronic Brochure with 16 works.
Trépanier, Jean - "Cent peintres du Québec", Editions Hurtubise HMH,
  1980, p. 76 and 77.
Vallée, Félix - "Marché de l'art - Guide Vallée", Edition II,
  Publications Charles Huot Inc., 1989, p. 260.
Vallée, Félix - "Marché de l'art - Guide Vallée", Edition III,
  Edition Le Guide Vallée (1992) Inc., 1993, p. 49.

Catalogues:	- ART EXPO CALIFORNIA 1990 and 1991
		- National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa 
		- Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
		- Musée d'art moderne du Québec
		- Ontario Art Gallery
		- Winnipeg Art Museum

Furthermore several newspaper and review articles were published across
Quebec and Ontario, and several television and radio interviews were
realized in the Ottawa/Hull region, namely CBC Radio and TV, Radio
Canada, TVA Network, Quatre-Saisons TV, CJOH TV, Laurentian Cable and
Rogers Cable vision. The most recent interview was in the series
"Germotte's Studio" in October 1994, a 30 minutes on the life and
career of Robert-Emile Fortin.
Top of the page
COLLECTIONS:

Children Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Gatineau Hospital, City of Ottawa,
City of Kanata, City of Hull, City of Gatineau, Municipality of
Metropolitan Toronto, politicians like Michel Dupuis Minister of
Canadian Heritage, Joe Clark former Prime Minister, etc., Air Canada,
Ottawa Senators Hockey Team, Hull Olympique Hockey Team, Ramada Inn
Hotel, Le Droit Journal, National Capital Commission, Franco-ontarien
Festival, Rogers Cable vision, Société Radio Canada, CROP Inc. (Surveys),
Fédération des caisses populaires du Québec, many Caisse populaires,
CIBC Bank of Toronto, Separated School Board of Ontario, Hull School
Board, Gatineau School Board, Vaudreuil Museum, Institut international
de formation en gestion aéronautique civile, National Indian Art and
Craft Corporation, Institute of International development and
Cooperation of Ottawa University, Canadien Council for International
Cooperation, Senate of Canada, the Canada Appeal Court, the National
Archives of Canada, the National Library of Canada, the National Library
of Quebec, the Public Library of Vanier, the Canadian Institute for
Blinds, Dorel Industries of Montreal, Toronto Human Society, Chamber
of Commerce of Victoria B.C., etc... In Japan: Neet Point Gallery (the
third most important network with over 30 galleries), Tottori University,
Hagihara Industries of Tokyo, etc...

And many Art Gallery Owners in Canada, including: Wallacks Gallery, The
Ottawa Art Gallery and Galerie Rodrigue Lemay in Ottawa, Galerie Jeannine
Blais in North Atley, Montreal Contemporary Art Gallery, Galerie Michael
Ange and Centre d'art Morency in Montréal, Young Fox Gallery in Toronto,
West End Gallery in Edmonton, etc... in United States (in Beverly Hill,
Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Washington, etc.) and in Europe (Barcelona,
Geneva, Paris).


MEDIUMS:

Acrylic paints on canvas and silkscreening in very limited editions,
always hand-cut and hand-pulled, are the two privileged mediums by
Fortin. But he also realized metallic sculptures and various
installations using all kinds of materials, washed ink drawings,
watercolors, charcoal drawings and various drawings with experimental
mediums. He also likes using mixed-media (specially collages incorporated
in his acrylics), and he also created acrylic paintings on sweaters.
Finally he did two paintings in oil.

His talents are also required on a commercial basis for works such as
conception of posters (including: "Capitals of the World Exhibition",
"Canada Day", "Mampuya Mbuka and R.E. Fortin - silkscreen", "Robert-Emile
Fortin au Zaïre", etc.) and buttons (including the Association culturelle
Canado-zaïroise), exclusive art cards (including Air Canada), Christmas
Cards (20,000 for Le Droit) and drawings for T-shirts (including the one
for the Spicer Commission on Future of Canada).

Murals: "Histoire d'un homme (inachevée)" at Place du Centre in Hull
(40 feet long by 5 feet high), "Synthèse des tunnels du temps" at Jos
Montferrant Building in Hull (12 feet long by 7 feet high), a series
of five paintings (4 feet long by 8 feet high each) for the Board of
Separated Catholic School of Ottawa, a diptych (8 feet long by 8 feet
high) for the Gatineau Cultural Centre, religious paintings for the
Church of Mayo and Ste-Rose-de-Lima Church in Templeton, and two murals
for Intrawest at Mont-Tremblant.
Top of the page
CAREER AND MAJOR EXHIBITIONS:

Robert-Emile Fortin is a professional artist since almost 30 years.
He started to paint by the end of 1972 and until 1976 he produced
essentially abstract paintings to compensate his precise graphic work
which he just quit at the Government. He also tried metal sculpture
and installations in mixed media.  Between 1976 and 1978, he spent a
lot of time in creating two major murals located in the main lobbies
of the Canadian International Development Agency at Place du Centre
in Hull and the Quebec Government Services at Jos Montferrand Building
also in Hull. The first mural is the largest and the most important
work using the confectionery technique that only this artist utilizes.

It's only in 1976 that he started to develop his figurative style which
became his trade mark. He produce mostly in that style until 1983 when
he moved exclusively to silkscreening until the end of 1988. He returns
to acrylic paintings in 1989 combining abstraction and figuration.

Between 1973 and 1980 he participated in about twenty group art
exhibitions in the Ottawa/Hull area (Ottawa, Gatineau, Hull), also in
the Mauricie region, in the Montreal region and at Montreal, Toronto,
Detroit and in the New-York State.

Since the beginning of his career, Fortin also participated in more than
one hundred (100) solo exhibitions in Canada only, covering the country
from East to West, by showing in Exhibition Centres, in Museums, in
prestigious Art Galleries as well as in Art Fairs and Shows. He exhibited
in the United States, in France, in Switzerland and also in Africa at
the Fine Art Academy in Kinshasa, Zaïre.

In 1985, a very important retrospective of his paintings and silkscreens
was presented by Wallack's Galleries in Ottawa and in 1989 the Ottawa
Art Exchange Gallery showcased the most important exhibition of his
career featuring more than one hundred works of art of which 84 acrylic
and mixed media paintings on canvas, some works on paper and sculptural
installations.

In September 1990, he participated in "Hull et sa peinture" exhibition
organized at the Galerie Montcalm in Hull for the launching of the book
on the same subject. He participated in ART EXPO CAL in October, and
many paintings were purchased for several Japan Galleries for exhibitions
in December 1990 in Osaka.

In 1991 he started the local season in April with an exhibition at his
studio followed by an exhibition in May as part of the "Spring Festival"
in Ottawa and continued with a third one in June as part of the
"Festival franco-ontarien". He spent the Summer at the Notre-Dame
Artistic Centre in Hull. In October he participated in "ART EXPO CAL"
in Los Angeles for the second time, in November he exhibited in
Watertown, New York, and he completed the season at the "First
International Art Show" in Toronto.

In 1992 he participated in exhibitions in Gatineau at Spring and in Hull
during the Summer, but the most important events of the year were his
solo exhibition on "Crazy and Ridiculous Art" at the Maison de la
Culture in Gatineau in November, his participation in the exhibition
for the official opening of the Centre d'art Morency in Montreal the
same month and in December his participation in the exhibition for the
5th anniversary of the Ottawa Art Gallery.

In 1993 he participated to few group Shows including The International
Naive Art Exhibition at the Galerie Jeannine Blais in North Atley and
the one of the official launching of the Guide Vallée at the Ottawa
Art Gallery. In fact, most of the period was dedicated to the completion
of his book "Comment devenir artiste-peintre professionnel" and a
research in abstract contemporary art.

In 1994 part of the year was used to produce the paintings for
illustration of the Christmas Tale: "Le traîneau du Père Noël".
The official launching of the book was at the National Gallery of
Canada in December with the exhibition of the 10 paintings illustrating
the book. He completed the year in buying a complete lithographic
studio to try that technique.

1995 was not the expected lithographic year, but rather the computer
year and a major new trend in this artist career. His computer is now
his new format "sketch book" and at the same time an incredible
opportunity to communicate instantly with the World through INTERNET.
He essentially lived on INTERNET for months, participating sometime
to conference on the development of technology related to the INTERNET.
So his production during that period was close to nothing as his other
activities. The only important exhibition was the one for his 50th
birthday at the Maison du Citoyen in Hull.

In 1996, he participated in a conference on "Artists and new
technologies" at the National Gallery of Canada before he moved to
the Laurentians. This return to nature was beneficial to the man, but
the artist did not produced a lot. 1997 was quite similar with just a
group exhibition in St-Jovite at Spring, one at Echo Diffusart Gallery
in September for the 10th anniversary of the Gallery, and a solo
exhibition at Tremblant Club in October. Then he opened a Studio-Gallery
at Mont-Tremblant where the action is.

1998 was probably the worst year in Fortin's life. He had a heart attack
in January and the recovering process was very difficult. It's only in
February 1999 that he started again to exhibit in participating to the
exhibition with the "Cercle des artistes peintres et sculpteurs du
Québec" in Montreal where he won a first prize and a special mention.
In June, he had a solo exhibition at the old Tremblant Village Station
transformed in an Art Centre, and he had an exhibition at Echo Diffusart
Gallery in November .

He had his Studio-Gallery at Mont-Tremblant until the end of the Summer
2000, while exhibiting in Ottawa and being very active on the Internet
with a major web site. He is preparing a new move before the end of 2000.
Top of the page

MOST IMPORTANT SERIES SINCE 1989

1) March to June 89:

"Museums" (5 acrylic works on canvas 30" X 40" using the confectionery
technique). First series produced after his return to painting following
five years of exclusive silkscreens production.

2) June to September 90:

"Sports in Highlight" (10 acrylic works on canvas produced for ART EXPO
CALIFORNIA using the confectionery technique)

3) December 90 to September 91:

"Emergence of Life" (15 acrylic works on canvas using the confectionery
technique)

4) May / June 91:

"The Golf War" (8 acrylic works on canvas using mostly the confectionery
technique)

5) June 91 to November 92:

"Vision of the World Evolution". This series is divided in 4 parts:

	I) CREATION including 3 paintings;

	ii) EVOLUTION including about 20 paintings;

	iii) COMMUNICATION including about 12 paintings;

	iv) SPIRITUALITY including about 10 paintings.

6) December 91 to June 93:

"Professionals" (10 acrylic works on canvas using the confectionery
technique : attorney, veterinary, urologist, obstetrician, dentist,
automobile body shop, karate school, mathematics teacher, computer
expert, ski resort)

7) January to March 92:

"Erotism"  (20 acrylic works on canvas, including few done previously)

8) April to October 92:

"Crazy and Ridiculous Art" (20 acrylic and mixed media works on canvas
and a major sculptural installation, for an exhibition at the Gatineau
Maison de la culture in November 92)

9) November 92 to June 93:

"Emotional Impact of Colour and the Art to Communicate with the Public"
(30 acrylic works on canvas, including some very small formats of
experiences in visual effects colouring)

10) July 92 to November 93:

"Communication with Paper". This series includes about 70 acrylic works
on paper divided in 5 suites:

	I) "The Masks" (a dozen of paintings)
	ii) "To Square the Circle" (22 paintings)
	iii) "Formal Explosion" (13 paintings)
	iv) "Society Games" (10 paintings)
	v) "Looking for the past-future" (a dozen of paintings)

11) March to August 94:

"Le traîneau du Père Noël" (10 acrylic paintbrush paintings on canvas
to illustrate a Christmas Tale)

12) December 94:

"The Technocrats" (19 works in acrylic painted onto abstract silkscreens
of 1987, and an acrylic painting on canvas 48" X 36", which is the
conclusion of the series and give some explanation on the process at
the back)

13) January to March 95:

"Josephine History" (12 acrylic paintbrush paintings on canvas, that
were supposed to illustrate a Fairy Tale for children)

14) May 93 to June 95:

"Communication with the World". This series include about 50 acrylic
and mixed media (mostly with collage of CDS) works on canvas in various
formats

15) January 97 to June 99:

"Invisible Entities". This series include about 15 acrylic paintings on
canvas produced at Mont-Tremblant and concern the integration of human
beings living in a parallel world, but who are part of our life.