In La Presse > Shaping the tailors of tomorrow
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Whether standing tall for centuries or recently erected, many stone buildings help shape the character of our province. A school open to all, run by artisans, has been created to pass on this expertise. Sculpture, ornamentation, functional objects... whatever the nature of the project, they are there to guide you.
Adrien Bobin and Alexandre Maquet have been working as stonemasons for 20 and 25 years, respectively. “I have my workshop on Île d'Orléans, but I have projects all over the place; many in Quebec City, sometimes in Montreal, and I work mainly, like Alex, in the heritage field,” says Adrien Bobin, who trained as an apprentice in France but insists he is not a journeyman. “So we restore stones on heritage buildings, but we also have a clientele of private individuals for new projects.”
The two men met about fifteen years ago at gatherings of artisans as members of the Conseil des métiers d'art (Council of Crafts). Then, in 2015, they carried out their first joint professional project. “We realized that it was really easier and more enjoyable to work together. There aren't many stonemasons in Quebec, and the Conseil des métiers d'art has developed several training courses that we have been asked to teach,” explains Alexandre Maquet.
They had already toyed with the idea of offering one-day courses to help preserve their expertise. “We met some academics who were passionate about heritage and who had the great idea of getting us out of our workshops and shining a light on the work of artisans, which motivated us to take action to raise awareness of our crafts,” continues Mr. Maquet, adding that at the same time, the Cégep du Vieux Montréal was developing a heritage program. “Teaching the course in this field helped us get our project off the ground.”
As luck would have it, one of their friends, sculptor Michèle Lavoie, was selling her school and wanted to get rid of her equipment. That was the catalyst for starting Les Ateliers de la pierre du Québec, a non-profit organization.
Catching the bug, one carved stone at a time
Located at 4710 Saint-Ambroise Street in Montreal, the school trains both novices and experienced students. Each student has access to a fully equipped and secure workstation. “We ask people to come in with a project, then we guide them by telling them what's possible,” explains Alexandre Maquet, one of the three teachers on site. “It's very varied, because all styles are in demand; some people like to make realistic things, others prefer abstract. Many really get hooked!”
First, beginners learn how to use the tools and identify different types of stone, then they work on their pieces under the guidance of the artisans. Little by little, everyone becomes more independent.
The more skilled ones mainly wait for technical recommendations, because they know what they want artistically, but they also take advantage of the stone carvers' trained eye to enhance their piece. For example, they refine their practice by bringing out volumes and rounding off lines.
Once they are sufficiently skilled, people can freely access the workshop to work on their pieces.
The cornerstone of conservation
The main objective of the non-profit organization is to train the next generation and support people in the construction industry, such as masons who want to learn stone cutting skills but have nowhere to train. “We also want to spark interest among CEGEPs and universities to train people who are studying architecture, for example, but who want to get their hands dirty. It's important for them to understand the materials so they can work on plans and specifications,” says Adrien Bobin.
Over the past decade, the arts and crafts have become increasingly important in society. “Heritage has become an issue, and people are shocked when an old building is demolished,” notes Catherine Charron, secretary of the organization's board of directors and coordinator of architecture and heritage at the Conseil des métiers d'art du Québec.
Ms. Charron also raises the environmental aspect, referring to the pollution caused by metal or concrete constructions, whereas in most cases, restoring buildings makes them last longer. Stone cutting would be a compelling example for our historic city centers, especially since the material is local, as many regions have very specific types of rock. Finally, she argues that this expertise is essential, not only because it preserves Quebec's architectural history and identity, but also because it adds an aesthetic artisanal touch to newer buildings.