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PROVENCE: GEOGRAPHY MATTERS
“Provence” has more efficacy as a "brand" than as a place. One rarely if ever hears any residents of the Vaucluse say that they live in "Provence." The word is heard frequently in its adjectival form: provençal.
As geography, the term "Provence" suffers abuse. The French consider contemporary 'Provence' to take in three administrative department:
- Vaucluse
- Bouches-du-Rhône
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Confusion pops up due to the administrative region PACA: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
When "Provence" is employed for the department of the Var (Toulon, St, Tropez) or the department of the Alpes-Maritime (Côte d'Azur) or even the five departments of the Languedoc-Roussillon, it is the "brand" asserting itself.
This is a regional distinction that Peter Mayle buys into 100% in his book Provence A-Z. In fact, if Mayle had been 'geographically-correct,' his iconic best seller would have been titled "A Year in the Luberon."
The Luberon and the Comtat Venaissin, referred to as the “Comtat,” are the two large regions within the Vaulcuse,
Tag Archives: Art
St. Rémy de Provence: Compositions as Body Art by Jacopo Baboni-Schilingi at the Outrageously Trendy Mas de l’Amarine
A virtuoso of raw force, the composer Jacopo Baboni-Schilingi has a quick hand – one with great élan for applying musical scores to the bare skins of those willing to model the music which he composed for an evening of … Continue reading
MENERBES: DORA MAAR AT PASCAL LAINE GALLERY JUNE 23 – JULY 5
An exhibition of DORA MAAR “de Picasso à Ménerbes,“ presented by Laura Pecheur and Pascal Lainé, runs from June 23 to July 5 at the Galerie Pascal Lainé, Rue Sainte Barbe in the center of Ménerbes. Open from … Continue reading
A HIVE SHOWS OFF ITS HONEY: THE STUDENTS’ SUMMER ART SHOW AT SCAD LACOSTE
To your average visitor, Lacoste appears from afar as a tightly-bunched cluster of biscuit-colored stone structures on a steep hillside whereas viewed from ground level it is an anally precise stacking of stone upon stone on four narrow stone-paved streets … Continue reading
ST REMY DE PROVENCE: CHATEAU DE ROUSSAN INVITES NATURE INSIDE ITS ANCIENT WALLS WITH THE POETIC WORKS OF FRANCOISE VERGIER
Entering the Château de Roussan through an alley of soaring plane trees, the austere edifice of this historical monument, which dates to the last half of the 16th century, is in full view. Captain Bertrand de Nostredame, the brother of Nostradamus, … Continue reading
AVIGNON: CY TWOMBLY AND INVITED ARTISTS AT THE COLLECTION LAMBERT, A STUNNING PANORAMA OF 20TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY
Good news. Now that the Avignon Festival has wound up, you can find a parking space in Avignon. More good news. The fabulous survey of 20th century photograghs: “Le Temps Retrouvé, Cy Twombly Photographs and Invited Artists,” runs until October … Continue reading
ART AS EXTREME BEAUTY: THE OUTRAGEOUSLY FEMININE MARBLE SCULPTURES OF BARBARA SEGAL AT THE DOMAINE DALMERAN IN PROVENCE
Art as “extreme beauty” in all its acute details is the theme evoked by the translucent marble sculptures of lingerie and dresses by Barbara Segal whose sumptuous creations marry her mesmerizing childhood memories of elegant tissues and garments with a … Continue reading
AP’ART FESTIVAL SET FOR 2011; SO WHY IS IT A PERFECT DISH ON REGION’S FESTIVAL MENU?
Consider this artistic assignment: grab a box of coloring crayons along with a map of the southern Rhone region and color in concentric circles around each town that hosts a summer festival, choosing a different color for each category of … Continue reading
PHILIP HUGHES: THE LIGHT OF THE LUBERON
From his house in Ménerbes, the British painter Philip Hughes infuses his canvases with the searing light of the Luberon, illuminating the contrasts of the rich verdant valley nestled among impassioned rugged mountains. His landscapes are inspired by the soothing … Continue reading
JESSICA LANGE’S PHOTOS ON EXHIBIT
In his biography of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Pierre Assouline notes that the photographer felt like a thief when taking shots. In effect, Cartier-Bresson conceived of himself as stealing images away from strangers. This perception reasserts itself when one examines the darkly-textured … Continue reading
THE “MOBILE” ART OF ANTOINE MOREAU
“Avez vous remarqué que journaliste commence par la même lettre que justicier?” “Alphaville,” Jean-Luc Godard The letter J? Number 769? The setting: On the lawn of the Hotel Les Ateliers de l’Image in St. Remy Provence during the sumptuous vernissage … Continue reading