Robert Fortier: an Extraordinary Man from St. Alexis de Montcalm Robert Fortier is a French-Canadian gentleman farmer who lives in the village of St. Alexis de Montcalm, Quebec. I have known Robert for more than a decade as the designer and fabricator of an unusual instrument called a Vibrothesiometer, an exquisite device used to measure vibration thresholds. I assumed that Robert was an engineer to have developed this unusual equipment, the finest of its kind in the world. But Robert is not an engineer. I have purchased several of these devices from Robert over the years, talking to him many times on the telephone and exchanging letters, but never meeting him in person. In the course of our conversations, I learned that Robert was an artist—a painter, a sculptor, and an expert in ceramics. Several years ago he sent me copies of some of his pictures and, in return, I sent him pictures of Bolin Creek, a small, but lovely stream fondly called the “heart and soul of Carrboro” by the former mayor of this North Carolina community. I live on the banks of Bolin Creek and have been working hard to preserve this natural treasure. Although he lives far away, Robert was impressed with the beauty of Bolin Creek and the efforts of local folks to preserve the creek corridor, so he became a member of the Friends of Bolin Creek. In October each year the Friends of Bolin Creek hold a festival to celebrate autumn and to educate the public about the importance of preserving this treasure. One day last summer, I picked up the phone on a whim and called Robert. “Would you like to visit Chapel Hill and paint a picture of Bolin Creek for our festival?” He thought for a moment and replied, “Of course I would love to come and paint a picture for your festival!” “How will I recognize you?” I asked. “It will be easy!” Robert replied. “I am 6’3” tall and have long white hair because I am Santa Claus each Christmas in the village where I live!” A few days before the festival, Robert flew down from Montreal, bringing his portable easel and painting supplies. Sure enough, he was very easy to spot as he walked out of the security zone at the airport—a tall, handsome man with long white hair and a twinkle in his eye, befitting Pere Noel. I was curious how a gentleman farmer came to design a specialized device for medical research and clinical testing. “I am an inventor!” he proudly told me. About 15 years ago, his daughter had been a graduate student at the University of Quebec, working in the laboratory of Donna Mergler, a world-renowned sensory physiologist. Donna was planning a field study which required the measurement of vibration thresholds. There was an old, cumbersome piece of equipment for this purpose in the laboratory. “How I wish I had a small, light-weight device to measure vibration thresholds!” Donna lamented to her lab assistant. “My father is a very clever man”, Ms. Fortier had replied. “Let me call him and see if he has any ideas.” And that was the impetus for designing and fabricating the vibrothesiometer! With several hours of light remaining on a long summer evening, Robert and I decided to explore the creek. We walked several miles downstream from my house in Carrboro to Umstead Park in Chapel Hill where the festival would be held. Even though the water level in the creek was low due the lack of rain during the hot summer, Robert was thrilled to see the creek. Our walk took us by several of the most beautiful sections of the stream corridor including the bluff at the foot of the Adams Preserve and a stretch below Village West. Early on the morning of the festival I drove Robert to Umstead Park where he selected a spot to set up his easel. For the occasion Robert wore an artist’s smock and beret. With his flowing white hair and beard, smock and beret, Robert was a striking figure as he created his acrylic masterpiece over the course of the afternoon. A heavy French-Canadian accent and outgoing personality added the final panache to an unforgettable and lovable character. Robert reveled in the attention and admiration of festival-goers who reciprocated with awe and amazement. The difference in latitude provided an unexpected challenge to the artist from the Montreal area far to the North. “I am not used to such a dramatic change in shadows as the elevation of the sun changes,” he said in frustration. “The sun at home is closer to the horizon and there is less change in color tone while I paint,” he explained. It seemed as though he restarted his canvas several times as the sun slid down below the tree-line and the leaves on the trees darkened. He worked quickly, trying to capture the pattern of sunlight on the leaves, beginning over and over again. Finally as the evening deepened and the warmth of the day disappeared, he completed his painting of a green and gold canopy of leaves reflected in the creek. Fortier’s visit coincided with the opening of the Claude Monet Exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. On Sunday morning we drove to Raleigh and saw the exhibit. To my surprise, Robert was intimately familiar with the work of Monet and provided a detailed tutorial as we wandered through the extensive exhibit. In art school Fortier had studied Monet and later had traveled to France and visited the places that Monet had painted. “This is the finest exhibit of Monet’s paintings that has ever been done!” he told me excitedly. When we reached the end of the exhibit he asked if I would mind if he went back to view it again. Back in Carrboro, my wife and I were to learn that Robert’s talents extended well beyond the laboratory and canvas. “Let’s stop at the market because I want to make dinner!” he declared. “But you are our guest!” I replied. “I insist!” he countered and soon we were driving home with hamburger, corn, potatoes, vegetables for a garden salad, and a bottle of excellent French wine. Robert then prepared a delicious meal for us and a neighbor’s family, one of whom spoke fluent French. After dinner Robert pulled out a bag which contained a collection of harmonicas. He then began to play French-Canadian folk songs. He handed one of the harmonicas to the teenage son of our neighbors and gave the boy some basic instruction on how to play. To our delight and amazement, the two were soon playing folk tunes together! Robert Fortier is an extraordinary man with many talents. We look forward to his return next fall to contribute his unforgettable charm and color to the next Bolin Creek Festival! FLORA · TRAVELS · EVENTS · ANIMALS · BOLIN CREEK · PEOPLE · INSECTS · FUNGI HOME · ABOUT · GALLERY · CONTACT © DAVE OTTO PHOTOS · 1533 PATHWAY DR. · CARRBORO, NC 27510 · EMAIL DAVE