Claire’s Gift
Written by Maxine Trottier

Paintings by Rajka Kupesic

Claire’s Gift was awarded the Mr. Christie’s Book Award for Best Children’s Book in 2000.

The story is set in the Acadian village of Chéticamp on Cape Breton Island.

Claire is sent to spend the summer with her great-aunt, Tante Marie while her father is away at war and her mother is working in the fish packing plant.

During her visit, Claire is very homesick and never smiles or plays with any of the children in the village. One night while her aunt is hooking a rug, Claire asks if she could try it. Tante Marie teaches her using the verse “With the hook catch the wool. Give it just a little pull. Give the wool a little tug with the hook to make the rug.” Claire worked all during her stay on her rug, and at the end of the summer she returned home accompanied by her unfinished rug.
In the following spring, Tante Marie received a parcel and in it was Claire’s finished rug.

This is a gentle tale of a sad and lonely child and how the understanding and kindness of an elderly relative opens her heart.

Kupesic’s paintings mimic the soft pastel colours of the hooked rugs. The paintings are detailed and emanate the warmth and caring from the people portrayed in them.

Rajka Kupesic has also done the paintings for the new edition of Maria Chapdelaine, which is based on the novel by Louis Hémon. Maria Chapdelaine has been published in twenty-three counties since it first appeared in 1916. It is as closely associated with Canada as Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. This enchanting depiction of a classic tale is paired with 26 exquisite, naïve paintings that capture the reverie and austerity of our Canadian heritage.

Rajka Kupesic is one of Canada’s leading naïve painters. She has exhibited extensively in Canada, the States and in Europe. Her paintings can be found in many important private and public collections around the world. Bremner Fine Art publishes her limited edition giclées and serigraphs. Visit www.bremnerfineart.com to view the collection.

To read a brief biography on Kupesic and view her images published by Northland Art, Search our Gallery by Artist.