Longueuil artist holds exhibit after losing life's work in water main break
Louise Rouleau says looking at new studio 'breaks her heart' as it reminds her what was lost
A Longueuil artist is hoping her first exhibit since a summer water main break flooded her studio and destroyed most of her life's work will help her heal.
Louise Rouleau's studio is now freshly painted and decorated with pieces that survived the flood. New creations also hang along the gallery walls.
But looking at the newly renovated space still makes Rouleau's heart ache.
"It reminds me there was that flood that destroyed so many things," said the 57-year-old world known artist, who paints under the name L'OR.
On June 20, a water pipe burst overnight, flooding at least four buildings in Longueuil. Rouleau had just returned from a successful solo exhibit in Chicago when water quickly filled her basement studio on Belcourt Street.
She rushed down to save what she could — which was very little. The paintings that were in Chicago, which was all that remained of her career, now line the hallway of her new studio.
The damage was vast. Portfolios containing hundreds of works of art were ruined and materials — such as paints and pastels costing thousands of dollars — destroyed.
Seeing her life's work gone is like losing a limb, she said. It's why the first piece she worked on was a painting she had started before the flood that was on an easel and spared by disaster.
"It was important because I felt that without doing that I might never paint again," said Rouleau.
The finished painting now hangs in her new studio next to a photo taken during the flood showing the damage.
'I want my wife back'
Rouleau only began painting a few weeks ago. At times, it was just hard to pick up a brush.
If she has works on her new gallery wall, she said, it is because of her manager and husband.
James Wise broke down when he spoke about the past few months and the toll it took on Rouleau.
"I want my wife back," he said. "She is not complete yet."
Couple blames city
The couple is hoping the weekend exhibit will help pay for what was lost.
Rouleau and Wise blame Longueuil's public works department for not properly maintaining infrastructure, namely a water pipe that was almost 50 years old.
The artist said she was ignored by the city and still has no answers about what caused the water main to burst.
"Nobody called," said Rouleau. "Nobody came — nobody. It's like I don't exist."
While Rouleau's insurers have agreed to pay for the cost of some of her damaged materials, which is in the thousands of dollars, she was also told her artwork wouldn't be covered.
The couple plans to go after the city for uninsured costs.
The City of Longueuil told CBC it will not comment on the situation for now.
'I want to go forward'
Rouleau right now is focusing on this weekend's exhibit as the first step to moving on.
"I don't want to stay in the past," she said. "I want to go forward."
"And I want people to realize that even if we lived something difficult we can continue our life. The beautiful side of art is that it makes you feel better in bad times."
The exhibit runs all weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2973 Belcourt Street in Longueuil.
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