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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,
Category Archives: Culture
Ménerbes: A “Pianocktail” With the Mellifluous Voice of Margeaux Lampley, Once of Oakland, California
Margeaux Lampley Chirping Out the Lyrics Below with Racey Gilbert on Drums (r.) “I should hate you But I guess I love you You’ve got me in between The devil and the deep blue sea” For jazz enthusiasts in … Continue reading
Ménerbes: Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House Fetes its Summer Residents
Perched on the hillside of Ménerbes, stands the large proud serene edifice of the Dora Maar House. Stretching out before it is a panoramic of manicured geometric shapes – countless lush tones of green – of vineyards and farm land, … 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
THE LACOSTE CHATEAU OF PIERRE CARDIN: A PEEK INSIDE THE FORMER LAIR OF THE MARQUIS DE SADE
A pasha of fashion, Pierre Cardin has taken up renaissance-pomo things like buying decrepit Châteaux and renovating them, the primary object of this particular enterprise is the Château Lacoste, once the lair of the Marquis de Sade. In 1772, M … 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
LACOSTE REPOTTED: A DECIDEDLY ANGLOPHONE FLORA; AN ART STUDENT SLEEPOVER A WITH PRETTY VIEW
Fact or Fiction? The village of Lacoste has 450 residents as noted in an August 2009 article penned by a reporter from the Paris bureau of the New York Times (NYT). True or False? Referencing the same piece, in the … 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