D'Arts et de rêves, a non-profit organization that promotes that visual arts, literature, and contemporary circus arts, has officially inaugurated a new installation on its property called the Cocon à Poèmes (Poem Cocoon). The installation was part of an initiative started by the CIUSSS de l’Estrie - Chus to create community projects for organizations in Sutton and Abercorn. The poem cocoon will be available to view all summer on the grounds of D'Arts et de rêves.
“It was a post-pandemic creative project that would bring people together and give some kind of hope, but more to bring people together around a common project,” said Natasha Evoy, administrative assistant at D'Arts et de rêves. “Our organization participated, the Town of Sutton, the Parc d’environment naturels de Sutton, as well as the Centre d’action bénévole, they all kind of contributed time or resources to the project.”
Local writer and poet Marie Clark served as creative director for the project and did poetry workshops that invited anyone from the community of Sutton to write their own poems to be hung in the cocoon created by artist Paulette Vanier.
“It was going to be an artistic project and we wanted to find something that people could, anybody, we had children, seniors, grade 3 students, teenagers, we wanted everyone to be able to participate. (…) She (Marie) even said it in her speech at the inauguration, everybody has poetry and art in their hearts, and here’s an occasion to bring it out and share it with other people,” explained Evoy.
The poems were written on a piece clay and painted during a ceramics workshop at Café-atelier Amaranthe.
“There were many steps to this so people had their own piece of art to contribute to the tree. After the pandemic and two years of lockdown, sanitary measures, and all of these things that brought people apart, (…) we wanted to bring people together and bring some kind of hope; and realize that even though we endured all of this, the heart is still living,” mentioned Evoy.
The Cocon à Poèmes was officially inaugurated on May 29 on the grounds of D'Arts et de rêves with a unique ceremony.
“We wanted people, who didn’t necessarily write something, that were still interested in the project to come and see it. The idea then was suggested to do a parade, a festive parade where people would dress up. Everyone met at the town hall and Madame Zazu, who is quite a character here in town, led the parade. Everybody marched then from town hall to the Parc Culturelle D'Arts et de rêves,” mention Evoy.
In terms of what they hope people will take away from the project, Evoy said it all comes down to recognizing the resilience in hard times and that everyone has the ability to create something.
“We all kind of have art within us and have something to contribute. It’s just a nice testament to hope and poetry. I think that poetry is often seen as something for writers, something very specific and you have to know what you’re doing, but I think people realized ‘hey, I can do this too’ and be a part of this,” noted Evoy.
D'Arts et de rêves is located at 57 Principale N., Sutton.
Listen to the interview below: