Tag: Luberon

The Art Life in Provence

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

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

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

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

Meet Marion Champin

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

My name is Marion. I am French, although a “world citizen” at heart! I launched my company — In Flight — in 2003. It specializes in Property Management for second homeowners in the Luberon and Alpilles region.

A strong taste for adventure and discovery has always been my motor! Choosing the “roads less travelled” has led me to live in various countries until 2000 (the U.K., Germany, the French Caribbean and the U.S.A.) — and even to travel transatlantic from France to the Caribbean — working on a large sailboat!

My cosmopolitan life, work experience and sensitivity have made me proficient in dealing with the challenges faced in multilingual and multicultural living.

After coming back to the “Provence of my teenage years”, I committed myself to assist the international community by helping them to manage their property in Provence and to develop their projects. My personal and professional background naturally guided me to help second-home owners lighten their daily life by managing their property, house staff, and administrative procedures and to participate in developing their projects in Provence. So I regrouped my expertise and skills into a service directed at the growing Anglo-American community in the Luberon and the Alpilles.

I have also had the opportunity to coordinate and organize private cultural events. These various experiences have contributed to building an eclectic and trusting network in the region, which I gladly rely on according to the missions assigned.

Developing In Flight has been a great experience and has allowed me to create constructive and rich connections between French culture and the international community since 2003.