New Book: Paysages imaginaires d'Acadie

cover art © Suzanne Daillaire.

Marie-Linda Lord and Denis Bourque's collaboration has yielded a book with a unique concept: a literary atlas. The subject is Acadia. Where is Acadia? I live in Acadia, but it would be tricky to point it out on a map.

The original territory of Acadia was divided into British colonies which later became the Canadian Provinces. Acadia is used to refer not to actual territorial boundaries but "to the areas that were historically associated with the lands, descendants, and/or culture of the former French Acadian region." * Since it is not made up of political boundaries, but is more of a historical and cultural reference, the atlas includes not only a variety of maps dealing with history, population etc., but it also evokes the flavour of Acadia with the writing and poetry from some of its greatest writers.

Their writings bring to life not only a sense of place, but the memories, culture and identity of the Acadian people who have lived in this area for centuries.

"Exultant" mixed media 30x30" ©2008 Shayla Perreault Newcomb

I'm thrilled that my spiritual landscape, "Exultant", was used with the writing of Serge Patrice Thibodeau. His poetry is wonderful on many levels. One thing I love is how the sound of his words delight.

The photo I was given features only half the team that contributed to the book. From left to right, artist Roger H. Vautour; Maurice Basque, director of the Institute of Acadian Studies; photographer, Dolorès Breau; Professor Denis Bourque, a co writer of the atlas; artist Georgette Bourgeois, artist Suzanne Dallaire, whose artwork appears on the cover; Marie-Linda Lord, holder of the Chair in Acadian Studies, a co writer of the atlas; artist Herménégilde Chiasson, also one of the six writers; artist Shayla Perreault Newcomb; graphic designer, Raymond Thériault; and Elizabeth Blanchard, the project coordinator of the Chair in Acadian Studies.

To see more photos and to read a french review...

à la prochaine!