Le Refus Global: Continuation of blogs on Quebec's Artistic Revolution

To hear this CBC archival entry about the creation of The Automatistes in Montreal, please click here. The radio documentary is about 5 minutes in length.

NFB: The Automatistes - artists of Montreal.

Jean-Paul, Riopelle. Untitled, 1951.

This documentary National Film Board film, focuses on the Automatistes, the artist of Montreal. Director Jean Palardy, presents the artistic Montreal rennaisance in 1954. Its a black and white film, and it runs for almost a half hour.

Click on this line to open the NFB film.

Quebec, Automatiste Art Show in Varley Gallery, Unionville, On.

Fritz Bratner: Montreal Harbour

CBC's As it Happens, presented an interesting interview this evening (November 4th)with Roald Nasgaard, curator of an exhibition of art prepared by the "Group of Sixteen", (known as the Automatistes)from Quebec. The group was iconoclastic and artists within the group,defined their art in a social context. The group was founded by Bordous and they signed a philosphic manifesto. The group consisted of artists, writers, a TV producer and sculptors.

The interview explored the noton that this group was influential in the development of Quebec's 'Quiet Revolution,' and that their iconoclastic elements were counterpoints against the rigidity of the ecclesiastically controlled Quebec society.

Painters included the famed Jean Paul Riopelle and Fritz Bratner, and their paintings were for the most part rather abstract and impressionistic.

The Frederick Varley Gallery, in Unionville is presently featuring a show of Automatiste art and it runs until February 28, 2010.

Please click here to read Roald Nasgaard's article on this showing.