A Celebration of Artists in Provence

A Celebration of Artists in Provence

Saturday Network Provence was privileged to join Nicky Ginsburg at her NG Art Creative Residency to celebrate the artists who have passed there this year working on their creative endeavours. If you’ve never been to the Moulin de Gréoux, it is a work of art in itself and well worth a visit while you can view the current exhibitions, which are up through October 15th.
A presentation of the Malaika Foundation took place, which helps support street kids in Nairobi. This project is just one of the charitable organizations NG Art Creative Residency supports. There were also sumptuous tables heavy with fruits and planchas of cheese, meat, and delicious comestibles cooked up by Nicky and her team. Wine flowed, music charmed, and with over 50 artists working on the show, it was a very interactive evening.
We were thrilled to see four works by Janice Jacquet of Network Provence on display and look forward to seeing more at her upcoming Luberon exhibitions.

It was a starry night indeed, and what a beautiful place to enjoy great art and company.

By Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence

The Art Life in Provence

The Art LIfe in Provence

With art being an overwhelming aspect of life in Provence, it is a great pleasure to have many available galleries and exhibitions on our veritable doorsteps to enjoy. At the heart of the local art world is the demure Elise Ruller, who points us in many directions for where and who to see. Tonight at the Apt atelier of painter and potter William Ruller, we were welcomed to the vernissage “Plans-Sequences’ by Isabelle Bonhomme. These large and striking works provoked intense reactions among the viewers, thus achieving the number one job of art. The paintings are dark and cinematic- at first, photographic and film-like. A deeper study reveals fine detail and marvellous precision called out of shadows. The moody canvases evoke buried emotional turmoil and require some time to consume their magnificence entirely. Like cutting room pin-ups- nostalgic- and calling for a more lengthy observation than a busy vernissage might allow.

And busy it was indeed! Luminaries from Apt and surrounds arrived and socialized with much praise for Bonhomme and the Rullers who were hosting. The dusk light wrapped around the convivial guests, and it was an entirely charming event. We are truly blessed in Provence to share such delightful happenings.

Thank you to @eliseruller @ atelier William Ruller for hosting and Network Provence’s many connections.

by Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence

Network Provence Special Event in a Wine Shop

Wednesday night saw Network Provence gathered at Racines Caviste and Wine Store in Bonnieux to experience tasting four female winemakers’ recommended cuvées and sharing an end-of-summer jolly. Women from many nations, backgrounds and ages sharing a tipple and community over our common denominator of choosing life in Provence proves again to be a magical combination.
Our hosts, Jessica and Pierre, taught us a few things about these female vigneronne who came to the wine industry by birth or by adventure, and it was enlightening to know that so many women have cracked into the trade in recent years. The knowledge and experience of our young hosts were exceptional and accessible- Racines is quickly becoming the go-to shop in the region for buying excellent wines. Tonight’s stand-outs included oenologist-turned-winemaker Helene Bluezen and Isabel Ferrando, whose Stella Ducit was a big favourite.
I’m looking forward to learning more about these inspiring women!

As always, our leader, Rebecca Ronane, allowed everyone to introduce themselves and speak about endeavours and encouraged much mingling and easy acquaintances.
The sunset gloriously bathed us all in its convivial glow, and how we laughed! Network Provence is a marvellous group of women – warm and welcoming, with much to share. Free of pretence and always open to new participants, Network Provence provides a much-needed connection point where collaborations happen, and good friends are found.

by Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence