André J. Chodat ~ Artist’s Profile

André Jacques Chodat was born in Quebec in 1918. He served as a private D177507 in the Canadian Armed Forces based in Petawawa, Ontario from November 28, 1944 to May 29, 1946. While enlisted, Chodat completed a course through the Khaki University of Canada, which included sculpture, life classes, commercial art and fashion designing.

A tour of duty overseas in 1946 introduced Chodat to the aftermath of World War II. Witnessing the devastation and human suffering affected him greatly. His notebook includes photos of a sculpture which depicted the fate of Polish Jews in concentration camps.

Upon his release from the army, Chodat pursued his personal art interests, and turned to commercial art as employment. His collection of memories includes a laminated reduced copy of the front cover of June 28, 1949 Canadian Time Magazine. His signature is quite legible on his artwork featuring Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent with the Canadian parliament buildings and the face of Sir Wilfred Laurier in the background.

André Chodat has lived in Quebec, San Francisco, New York City, New Mexico, Wyoming, Calgary, Edmonton, and Wainwright, Alberta. There is evidence of Chodat travelling to foreign lands at some point in his life, possibly before his marriage to Madeleine Rose Rey. Sketches and paintings, as well as collectible artifacts in his belongings, indicate his appreciation of all cultures and lifestyles. He became especially proficient in Oriental and Indian portrait art. His notebook also records details of exceptional animal art.

Believed to have illustrated for the movie industry, it is possible Chodat did the poster board for the billing of the Warner Bros. movie “Susan Slade” starring Troy Donahue and Connie Stevens in the 1960s. A newspaper clipping of this movie promo is in his collection of paper items. His work in many instances cannot be verified due to most of his illustrator assignments being unsigned. Some freelance invoices from the 1970s are included in his bio data.

A letter to Chodat, and a news clipping from February 8, 1974 tells of his connection to the “Kids for Kids Karnival” and a presentation made to Marjorie Margolies, WNBC-TV News Reporter. Chodat had painted a portrait of Ms. Margolies and her adopted daughter Lee Heh. The article describes Chodat as “renowned Oriental and American Indian painter.” This event connects Chodat to celebrity sponsors including Barbara Walters and Geraldo Rivera.

Chodat was commissioned to paint a portrait of Chief Red Crow of the Blackfoot nation. The painting was based on old photos from the Glenbow Archives in Calgary and was donated to the Blood Indians of Alberta during a pow wow ceremony held in Standoff, Alberta in July 1973. André and Madeleine Chodat attended the event. There are some snapshots in his notebook of this happening.

During his later years, Chodat was subject to bouts of deep depression, eventually being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Madeleine, who passed away in 2002, recalled returning home one day to find her husband burning many of his paintings. André Jacques Chodat died in Wainwright, AB October 9, 1992. What remains of his personal collection is part of what will be sold at auction August 7, 2004.