| His ancestor, Pierre Miville, of Fribourg in Switzerland, went to France then to Canada. He settled in Rivière-Ouelle during the XVIIth century where one of his sons took the name of Miville-Deschênes. Benoi was born in Saint-Aubert, a village next to Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. |
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Studies |
Benoi completed high school in Quebec city. In 1959, he entered the wood carving school of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli directed by Jean-Julien Bourgault. During four years, he was a novice and a wood carver companion at Marcel Guay's workshop. Later, he studied in visual arts in Montmagny and at the school Notre-Dame-de-Foy in Cap-Rouge near Quebec. |
Teaching
From 1966 to 1972, he was a high school teacher in arts at Saint-Pamphile and L'Islet-sur-Mer. «I have loved the teaching profession and kept a very good souvenir of this period . That is probably why a few years later, I opened my own school of sculpture.» Today, he has his own school where students from all over the world can benefit of his large experience. He was a jury member in many international sculpture contests and directed wood carving seminars in Canada and abroad. |
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Carving
His carreer as a professional carver started in 1971 when he opened his own shop in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. His productions had to be known. Open to different kinds of styles, he chose the figurative art. The human figure and the portrait allow him to realize his objectives. History and childhood souvenirs have always been sources of inspiration for him. Each project becomes a great challenge to take up. Several of his art works decorate public places or are part of private collections. |
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