Best of Show

Renee moved to Montreal from Switzerland when she was about 5 years old.  She came with her father,  her mother was delayed for health reasons and joined the family a few months later.  During those long months without her mother Renee claimed that she stayed alone in the house while her father went to work.  Renee married her first husband at a young age and quickly had her three children; Michele, Edmond and John.  Her husband, Henry, had come from Switzerland in 1922 with a goal to develop the arts in Canada. The major part of this plan was to open an art school with his friend, Michel Jolivet. Michel was an instructor at the Shawinigan Technical Institute. Henry had graduated from an Art school in Geneva and had started to establish a reputation for himself when he decided to travel. His work had been noted for its qualities of "simplicity and harmony while retaining a practical use". In both Geneva and Montreal he had been awarded "best of show" in various expositions. In Montreal he taught lessons in textiles, pottery and oil painting and actively marketed and sold his work. The "Art Moderne Francais Limitee" at 448B Rue Guy, Montreal was founded in 1926 by Henry. In 1929 he moved his pottery production to Shawinigan Falls.  The year before his death Henry was in the process of purchasing a building on Melville Island in Shawinigan Falls for the cost of $40.00, payable at $5.00 per a month.  He faithfully submitted his payments and in May 1931 the building was his and was to become a Technical Institute for the Arts.

It was a financial struggle to support his growing family on Art and Henry started to work as a chemical operator at "Shawinigan Chemicals".  He worked the night shift and used the ovens in the factory to fire his pottery.  The long nights in the factory took a toll on his health.  He died at home in 1932 of Scarlet Fever. His infant son"s Baptism papers state "John Henry David Miege, infant Son of the late Henry Louis Constant Miege chemical operator of the Shawinigan Chemicals of the City of Shawinigan Falls...." Perhaps the arts were not recognized as a true occupation but  I know for certain that Henry did not see himself as a chemical operator. A record of his addresses in Montreal, and later at Shawinigan Falls, consistently report his occupation as Artist.

Below is the death certificate which is signed by his friend, Michel Jolivet.

Renee and Henry