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Montreal Area
Decorative Painters |
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Tole and decorative painting
was not well known in the Montreal area until the early 1980's when a few
people started taking lessons from Janice Montreuil at her home in LaSalle,
Joanna Olson who had a small shop in Hudson, or from teachers from out
of town. However, Janice moved away and Joanna closed her shop leaving
several budding tole painters without teachers. Flo Wilde and Lynn McMahon
happened to meet and discovered others who had similar interests. They
decided to get together and on March 5th, 1986, held their first meeting
at 58 Eaton Road, Kirkland, at the Church of Latter Day Saints.
In attendance were: FIo Wilde,
Marilyn Pinsonneault, Joyce Canfield, Francie Lange, Lynn McMahon, Linda
Howe-Beck, Cheryl Martin, and Johann Law. They met once a month and shared
lessons and techniques they had learned. As more painters joined the group,
a more organized format (a Guild) was established on September 4th, 1986.
Flo Wilde was President, Lynn McMahon Vice-President, Marilyn Pinsonneault
Secy.-Treas. Johann Law offered to put out a monthly newsletter, and Joyce
Canfield handled the Library. The name Montreal Area Tolers (M.A.T.) was
chosen and annual fees were established. There were 20 members and Johanna
Law designed special name tags. By November it had its maximum of
25 members.
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Our first
show and sale was held at Joyce Shea's first tole shop "Coin
Cache" (Hidden Corner) in 1986 in Pointe-Claire Village.
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In 1987 our
annual sale was held at the Dollard des Ormeaux Recreation
Centre. |
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From 1988 through
1991 (October) our sales were held at the Beaurepaire United
Church in Beaconsfield, in conjunction with their Annual Antiques
Show and Sale. |
Flo Wilde was our President then and a member of the Church
of Latter Day Saints on Hymus Blvd. in Kirkland. She got
us the space to meet there, hold paint-ins and hold seminars.
We were not allowed to have anything with caffeine in it, such
as regular tea, coffee or colas.
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In 1988 we donated a Noah's
Ark canvas wall hanging, painted by guild members, to the church
as a thank you for allowing us to meet monthly on their premises,
free of charge.
The project began the summer
of 1988. Johann Law, Ann Robinson and Gail Perks did prelimilary
designs and basecoating. Members then came to the church – each of
them chose a set of animals they wanted to paint and work was under way.
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The canvas was presented to
Bishop Colin Gordon and Primary President Susan Cotudel on March 2, 1989.
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Since 1988, we have been invited
to decorate a Christmas tree at the Montreal Museum of Fine
Arts. Each year we have had a theme for the tree, from angels
to teddy bears to butterflies, and each year it has been a huge
success for the public. Members hand paint the decorations,
which are on display at the museum from the last week in November
until after New Years Day. Please click here
to see our trees over the years.
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Seminars are held regularly
to broaden the members' knowledge and experience in decorative painting.
1989 featured Priscilla Hauser, Helen Cavin and Nancy Wekarchuk.
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