PROFILE
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Running art gallery more than a job for Lizotte
“The economical starvation imposed on charities does not provide groups with the tools and means to make everything just right,” said Lizotte. She has been volunteering 15 to 20 hours each week in the gallery in addition to her regular working hours to achieve her goals. “What I enjoy most however, is setting up art exhibitions, discovering new emerg- ing artists, starting them up as profession- als then pushing them out of the nest and watching them flourish.” “I have weekly testimonial from people of all ages: Children from elementary schools that learn new skills and feel valorized by discovering that they have talents they didn’t know they had; the high school stu- dents that feel inspired and feel a sense of pride when their piece is on the gallery wall; the emerging artists that could not come out of their artistic closet without the gallery’s guidance and help organizing and setting up their first show; the general pub- lic that can’t draw or paint but loves to see what others can create and to open their mind to the message the artist is trying to communicate,” explained Lizotte. Lizotte is very devoted to her role as di- rector, and feels her personal strengths are in her devotion to her work, the commu- nity’s cultural development, her persistence in spite of obstacles, and to her family.
LISA ETHERINGTON- RUNIONS
The Cornwall Regional Art Gallery, now known at TAG Cornwall, has a director at its helm that promotes “the vision, under- standing, appreciation, conservation, and enjoyment of the visual arts in the com- munity of Cornwall for past and future generations.” Sylvie Lizotte started at the gallery 19 years ago on the heels of graduating with a dual business accounting diploma, and since then she has not looked back, lov- ing every minute of the job and Cornwall, a place she has called home for the last 25 years. “I did not really choose my profession,”ex- pained Lizotte, “Life decided for me.” “When I got married I was studying pure sciences and arts. I did science, physics, chemistry, math, ballet, jazz, and visual arts. It was heaven to me!” She was married for 21 years, and during this time had two children, and she sacri- ficed her education while her ex-husband went to school. Lizotte ended up working for the Bank of
Special photo
The Art Gallery director Sylvie Lizotte speaks during 30-year anniversary celebra- tions for TAG, formerly known as the Cornwall Regional Art Gallery.
Montreal as a personal loan - customer ser- vice clerk, then later as a receptionist work- ing in a medical centre, a medical assistant and as a bookkeeper for several doctors. “When my husband was offered a teach-
ing position at St. Lawrence College, I de- cided to go back to school.I graduated from St. Lawrence College and La Cité Collégiale with a dual Business Accounting diploma”. Lizotte attributes much of her apprecia- tion of the arts to her experience growing up as a child in Quebec. Born and raised in Chateauguay, one of her most inspirational
When asked if there was anyone dead or alive that she would like to meet, Lizotte was quick to say: “Leonardo da Vinci is my inspiration. He was a man of unquench- able curiosity and feverishly inventive imagination and one of the greatest paint- ers of all time. I would ask him to teach me all he knows and paint
moments as a child was living on her grandfather’s farm in Riviere-Ouelle. “Every summer and on every holi- daywe stayed there, and I became very attached to nature, the St. Lawrence River and family life there. I truly can’t live without seeing the reflection of the
“What I enjoy most however, is setting up art exhibitions, discovering new emerging artists, starting them up as professionals then pushing them out of the nest and watching them flourish.”
You are cordially invited to attend the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of CORNWALL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
sun on the water and big family gatherings.” Lizotte came from a hard-working family. While her father worked for CN his whole life, building and repairing train wagons, he also had a second weekend job making and delivering bleach from door to door like a milk man. As the second of five children, Lizotte along with her sisters and brother would ac- company their father helping him clean the glass gallons, and trailing along with him when he was making his deliveries. Lizotte’s mother was a stay at home mother and babysat other children until they reached school age. Coming from a family where work eth- ic was important, Lizotte learned from a young age the importance of working hard to achieve your goals. She has found that the hardest part of her job defending the value of the arts in our community, year af- ter year.
my portrait with a Mona Lisa smile!” When asked who has had the greatest influence on her life, she points out it was her Grade 11 ecology teacher. “He praised my laboratory reports that were a breed between an artistic sketch book, including collapsible paper sculptures and the tradi- tional clear and concise style with schemat- ic and precise data analyses. He kept them as example for future generations. Since that day, I wanted to be an artistic scientist just like Leonardo da Vinci!” There is a motto by Michael P. Watson that Lizotte believes in: “Strong people don’t put others down...they lift them up.” This has a lot of meaning for her. When asked how she would define suc- cess she said: “You are successful when you touch both heart and mind of your public. In the future I see myself during my retire- ment volunteering my time and expertise to Cornwall’s future art centre!”
Date: Time:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
12:00 noon Location: Cornwall Community Hospital Second Street Site Boardroom (Ground Floor) 510 Second Street East Cornwall, Ontario K6H 1Z6
The agenda will include reports from the Board Chair, the Executive Director and the Auditors.
RSVP Phone: 613 930-4508 Email: foundation@cornwallhospital.ca
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