Larocque discovers hidden talent
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Providence (Mar 30/01) - Al Larocque never fancied himself an artist.
It was only in May of last year that his creative talents began to emerge.
He decided to try his hand at carving and make use of a Dremel drilling tool that his spouse, Evelyn, bought him a few years ago.
Looking at a moose antler, he could see an eagle in flight within it.
"It just came natural. I can see it as I start working with it," he said.
"I really don't know how it started. It's just a gift, I guess."
He has since made 15 soaring eagles out of moose racks. Each is finely finished with piercing yellow eyes.
It takes an average of seven to 10 days to complete one.
It's a talent that most of Larocque's friends don't associate with him.
"People come in and ask me, 'Al where do you buy all your carvings?," he said.
"And when I tell them (I make them) they won't believe me."
Larocque's joking and quick wit make it difficult to know when to believe him. Asked how he acquired the 15 antlers, he said: "I shot all of them -- seven-and-a-half moose."
Larocque, who is of Cree descent, is serious about the symbolism of the eagle.
It's a powerful, spiritual animal in most aboriginal cultures, he noted.
"The eagle is the king of the sky," he said.
Symbolism is also prominent in his only bison skull artwork.
There are images of a bear paw, the sun, a feather and a red patch representing fire painted on the skull of a young bull, which he found in the bush.
He plans to create more eagles from moose horns, but he can't foresee himself branching out into other forms of art.
"Nothing on paper... I'll stick to carving," he smiled.
