LEWISTON — A tea and discussion with artist Mercedes Gastonguay will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, March 17, at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St.

It is part of the college’s Franco-American Collection.

The focus of the discussion will be the large oil tableau “A la mémoire de nos ancêtres” (“In memory of our ancestors”).  The work is an original historic art tribute to honor the Canadians who immigrated to the Lewiston-Auburn area. The work took a year and a half to complete.

Ms. Gastonguay will give a brief history of the arrival of the Franco-Americans, and will describe the process she undertook to create the work, including research, planning, drawing and painting.  Some of her rough sketches will be on display, and prints of the painting will be on sale.

The public is invited to visit the collection at 1 p.m. and stay after the discussion to join in the monthly sing-along featuring the Troubadours. The event is free and open to the public.

This is one of many events happening throughout the week as part of “La Semaine de la Francophonie,” celebrating the French language and those who speak it. 

The next event at the Franco-American Collection will be Monday, March 20, to view “French Connections: Franconnexions,” a conference at the University of Vermont, highlighting the historical, cultural and economic contributions of French Canadians from Québec to New England.

The Franco-American Collection is one of the largest repositories in the Northeast for the culture of French Canadian immigrants to the United States. The collection preserves the past and promotes the study of Franco-American culture and history.  For more information, go to http://usm.maine.edu/franco, call 753-6545, or email janet.roberts@maine.edu.