I've come to accept that each vernissage is different. It depends on my group of artists from the village, my barn inspirations, the time of year, the weather, and the friends and neighbors who come from the village (and environs or afar) to share in the event. But regardless of all of the above, the magic is always at hand. How can it not be, when you have so many creative and talented people in one place who want to share what they do and who they are? It's exciting. It's an opportunity. It can be networking. For me...it's about passion and magic. The first time I walked into this cave I thought gallery. In the early days, I'd sometimes sit outside in the lower garden and visualize the event. As with my many other visualizations...it became MORE than I could have even dreamed.
It began with Patrick's very professional hanging and lighting system. The first year-hand carried invitations, but from then on we announced the event in the June village newsletter that Christiane writes. Special themed expositions began in 2009, and then took over the barn when it became part of our WE 2010. Our first year we had Marina's piano magic. 2010 saw Anne-Marie Kremer performing opera on the terrace. The main wall is for returning artists, the rest of the cave is for returning and new artists. We do not define ART! EVERYONE who wants to share their creativity is welcome.
I had two magic moments alone in the dark Saturday night: one when I had turned off the lights in the cave and just stood and felt the energy swirl in the place as I looked out to the lower lit garden terrace, and the second standing still in the dark on the traintracks between the barn and the Chatette terrace among all the sweet, lit wine bottle candles and yogurt pot votives. WE swirled with magic, creativity and the passion of our village and its people!
Returning artist, Patricia Laroche, contributed four pieces for the evening. Her 3D pieces are always incredible, as you can see from La Femme Au Corset above left. New artist, Brigitte Deully-Vindevoghel, contributed six pieces, 25 dolls, and another very special activity I'll share with you another time. Her Coq Magnifique above right is my favorite of her paintings.
Evelyn tried something new this year when she had her photos printed and pulled on canvas. Below you see: Impression du Lot and Si Je Pouvais Guarder Temps Dans Une Bouteille (excuse any inaccurate translations-they are mine). Evelyn also had them put on sets of cards. She'd said I could use them as a gift or a prize for a competition. No competitions that evening, but with the amount that both Patricia and Brigitte contributed; Evelyn's beautiful, regional, photo cards went to them.
