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Master storyteller Mémère Catherine Charron captures the
word in art form when she brings to life the stories of the past. A
skill passed on from her Great Grandfather Lachapelle and Grandfather
Charron, Mémère preserves the legends that her French-Canadian family
harvested as lessons, tales and adventure for the young. Often the
fables she first learned as a child were haunting, like the young man
that is lured into the forest by a beautiful woman that turns into an
“ugly old hag” and is never seen again or of the loupe garou (werewolf).
However, as scary as these tales may be, they hold a wealth of wisdom
and moral teachings.
Mémère has done a lot of research to recapture her
family history and the rich Quebecois stories that shaped communities.
Since then, she has shared her treasure of tales with artistic flare at
the Albany Institute of History & Art, Caffé Lena’s Heritage Series,
elderhostels, WAMC, and regional festivals. Her profession in
storytelling began at the local County Folk Life Festivals, part of the
Washington County LARAC Folk Arts Project. In 1999, the New York State
Council on the Arts recognized Mémère Catherine Charron as a master
artist and, in 2001, received the North Country Heritage Award.
Catherine performs at schools, historical societies, art centers,
museums, folk art centers, and festivals; please contact her for more
information.
On December 12, 2004 she will be at Skene Manor in
Whitehall, celebrating their month long Victorian Sundays.
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