Land of Lavender, Music, and Photos.
The Roman city of Arles in Provence (South of France) has wonderful happenings throughout the year, but the one event that would make me move there is the summer photography festival -- a sophisticated pictorial feast.
Nestled at a bend of the Rhône river, and at the entrance to the flat and wild gypsy country of the Camargue, the city was a major Roman outpost and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its temporary residents was Vincent van Gogh who lived in town only for two years but fathered some 300 paintings and drawings while in Arles.
The Festival.
From July 6 to September 20, anything to do with photographic art is represented at the festival baptized Rencontres d'Arles (Arles' Encounters). Neither just a museum, nor only a festival, the event takes over the entire town in its summer heat.
The program is gigantic in scope and in quality. Held since 46 years, the festival draws thousands from over the World, fans and pros alike of anything photographic.
Spread inside churches, abbeys, former convents, ateliers, museums, galleries, plazas, outside walls and specially-erected tents, the eye enjoys a multitude of styles and formats in the relaxed mood of a provincial town. The beautiful Musée Réattu is one of the major anchors of the festival.
All of a sudden, a deep alley butts at a beautiful picture and becomes the view to walk to; everywhere the pictures find their support, be it a wall, a rubbish bin, a streetlamp, or a store window - not only present in official places, the art is leaking in the most unsuspected corners of the ancient city.
Not limited to inside exhibition spaces, the walls of many stores, houses, a few ruins even act now as flat surfaces where to hang photos - taking the expression street art to a whole new level. Inhabitants of Arles welcome the educated crowds roaming its narrow streets in search of yet another feast for the eyes.
Classes and workshops are open to everyone and attract a multitude of young talents and photographers looking to teach or refine their skills.
Buildings rehab.
Usually used as a satellite location for many of the exhibits, the former SNCF Ateliers - abandoned former French railroad building sites, have become a major focus of the festival, even though the warehouses are somewhat estranged from the center of town and require vehicular transportation to get there.
Under the auspicious dedication of a new director, Sam Stourdzé, and the new owner of the gigantic site, the Fondation Luma, star architect Frank Gehry has created new exhibits spaces, such as the Atelier des forges, doted of metallic beams, as well as air and light control, something sometimes lacking in other fair locations.
And of course, the inevitable and welcomed food trucks have finally appeared in a traditionally very warm region such as Arles in the summer months. The many local sweets and ice cream shops make it easier to walk for hours among great pictures, enough to lift both soul and body.
This is not America, clean toilets and cool water fountains are still non-existent, but I am sure somebody is working on this for next year.
More info here.
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