It is not new that art, culture and heritage constitute elements of identity of the municipality of Frelighsburg. These three words also appear on the welcome signs at the four entrances to this small community in Estrie.
However, acts of vandalism were recently committed on three of these four posters. Criminals have “grossly and deliberately” blackened the word “art”. The unfortunate gesture was noted by municipal authorities on June 6. A formal complaint was filed with the Sûreté du Québec at the beginning of the following week.
“Bounce back from the affront”
Supported by the municipal team, the council of elected officials chose a very original way to prove that it is not enough to cross out a word to eliminate what defines a community. A group of citizens, made up of young and wiser people, took the initiative. They used their creativity to reintegrate the “art” onto the three panels.
“The gesture shocked us, certainly, but we decided to make it an element of testimony to the importance of art for our community,” explains the mayor of Frelighsburg, Lucie Dagenais, in an interview.
Young students Sarah, Fauve and Édouard participated in the restoration. (Gilles Blais)
Only two weeks passed between the act of vandalism and the final processing of the posters. On the one hand, the municipal authority contacted those responsible for the Saint-François-d’Assise primary school to allow young students to restore the panels in their own way. Two local artists also joined the movement. Jacques Lajeunesse and Cédric Loth, residents of the community, put their passion for visual creation to good use.
“Both artists participated in it according to their own styles. Jacques Lajeunesse integrated a bird into his work. For his part, Cédrick Loth has extensive knowledge as a cartoonist, visible on his poster,” continues the mayor, obviously proud of the result.
Jacques Lajeunesse, painter and resident of Frelighsburg. (Gilles Blais)
Citizens and visitors can now observe the revamped posters at the three relevant entrances to the village.
