One of Roger Plourde's unique works of art.

Industrialist Becomes Artist: Sculptor to Present Works at Assumption College

Roger Plourde is living his dream.

Upon retirement, the former industrial executive traded annual reports for slabs of clay and his business suits for comfortable beachwear. Now, Plourde spends his days pursuing his lifelong interests in art and sculpture.

Plourde was the president and treasurer of Custom Coating and Laminating Corporation, which he founded in 1961. A private family business, CC&L manufactured film, plastic bags, coated paper products, and laminating materials for plastics and fabrics. The corporation was most recently noted for playing a major role in producing a heat-conducting material for decoy tanks in Operation Desert Storm. CC&L was sold to Furon Corporation in 1995. He was also involved with several other companies, including Flexcon, Suprenant Manufacturing, and Tempflex. Plourde and his wife, Gloria, are longtime supporters of the College, and he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Assumption in 1988.

Plourde’s talents were first cultivated during his high school and college years, when he took his first drawing and painting classes. His interest continued, and he participated in workshops to keep current on techniques and methods, often planning his vacations around these courses.

His artistic side was never too deeply buried in his occupation, however. “In the industrial field, you have to stay creative to keep ahead of your competitors,” he said.

Now Plourde has his chance to shine. He and his works of art will be featured at an opening reception on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 4:00 pm in the d’Alzon Library. The exhibit will last until November 26, 2003.

It took a while for Plourde to realize that art was his calling. He retired from his business pursuits six years ago and began sculpting nearly full-time. He uses stone, wood, clay, and found objects as his mediums. He has a small studio on Cape Cod, where he spends his summers. “I enjoy working with my hands, wherever I am,” he said.

He’s accepted some failures, acknowledging that he’s still new to the game. “I take failures in stride,” he said. “I love art, because the challenge is always there for me. I’m a learner. I enjoy experimenting.”

Plourde tries some unusual techniques to create his works. Recently, inspired by the beaches of Nantucket, he began sculpting a clay rendition of white snail shells. He stopped partway through, pleased with his efforts.

"I like to see works of art in their emerging, starting stages,” he said. “They don’t necessary have to be finished. Michelangelo has done pieces like that, and the unfinished work excites me.”

He is also moved by unusual subject matter. On one recent occasion, he came across a piece of pipe and, fascinated by the unusual material, shaped a nude sculpture out of the metal.

It usually takes anywhere from one week to three weeks for him to finish a piece, depending on its complexity. Inspiration comes to him when he goes with the flow.

“It’s hard to plan,” he said. “A piece can start out as something else, and eventually evolves into something completely different.”

Plourde is eternally grateful for his interest in art, and for his ability to pursue his calling. “It’s a good reason to be alive, to keep on going, “ he said. “It makes me want to get up in the morning and explore; it’s delicious.”