PROVINCIAL TOWNS AND INTO COLOURFUL DEPTHS
Reims yesterday. The last time I had visited that town it was cold and dreary too but at least there was some activity. Provincial townships on a Sunday are deadly. I had never visited the centre but gone directly to Champagne country to see a client.
Thank goodness Jerome and Laurent were with me. We travel at least once a year together and also if their work load permits, see exhibitions. Our tastes in art are more or less the same. In music, the answer is no and I will not induce them to come with me to contemporary or modern music concerts....
There was the famous Reims Cathedral to visit. A small service was on when we arrived and the choir was singing its heart out. I would think to stay warm as the three of us were very quickly chilled to the bone. We looked at the Chagall window (I preferred the modern windows) and after perhaps 20 minutes inside - left.
The small Beaux Arts museum (which closed at 12-30 on a Sunday. What do people do in a Provincial town on a Sunday afternoon?) was a delight. A mixtures of styles and periods. Some artists we didn’t know at all. Quite a large collection of Cranach portraits which are not all on show. On their Internet page they describe the traditional and «reassuring work». I’m sorry Jerome was caught taking photographs as there were one or two artists - modern - who looked interesting.
After lunch, we walked to Pommery. 30 minutes when we crossed not man nor his dog. Even the impressive entrance to Pommery was silent. I was hoping there would be no crowds inside.
The huge entrance hall was more than impressive. The Champagne bar looked tiny in comparison with Barrel or the wooden doors that led to the cellars.
We were summoned for the visit, alas we were not alone. Obviously such events need to be organized but I do not like organized visits of any kind. Rushed through and invariably little time to stop and enjoy what one wants to. This was to be the case during the hour long walk through the cellars. We were hurried from one exhibit to the next.
Since 2003 Pommery has had a contemporary art exhibition in the depths of their cellars. This was the 9th edition. I had called to reserve in January and the 4th of March was the first available date."Called "La Fabrique Sonore" or perhaps "The Sound Factory"?
Down, down, down we go. 116 steps like Orphée but instead of going to hell you are going into exotic country. Champagne. Just a few steps down and a lamp salutes you with an organ note. A little further on another and finally at the last step you have heard three notes which announce ? (Pierre Bastien- Paper Organs : 2011) You are welcomed by a sparking glass chandelier with a light which intensifies as the crowd moves on.
Hit that stone with a hammer and a neon light will show you how strong you are. Does the light go the whole way or stop half way along its route... (Bertrand Planes - 8bit-kermesse, 2010-2011)
Dive into that pool of water - if only one could. The surface is like a strip of ice and underneath there are microphones which listen to you and change the waves on a screen...(Thomas McIntosh 2002) Ondulation)
Did you hear the champagne popping when you went into this Blue cave stretching up to the ceiling? (Robin Meier & Ali Momeni 2011)
Why didn’t I dare to swing and make music with bells ? Another lady did...(Seulgi Lee «Cloches» 2011)
Perhaps it was better to watch the tribal colours of neons change and created as if for a disco in the depth of the cellars (Galerie Bristol 14 2011)
Or be saddended by a children’s choral as through animal skulls their voices rose truimphantly...(Théo Mercier & Clin Johnco 2011)
Now you can play a tune on Jean Michel Othoniel musical instrument (2011) and finally ride away to dream land on Dzine’s bicycle (2011).
I wish you well.
There were many other artists in this Labyrinth of sound and light. Laurent was there to take the photos at the end of the crowd. Jerome and I were first to see each artist’s contribution. How I wish we could have taken more time and traveled that road of sonority alone....
Cheers....until the next time !
Thank goodness Jerome and Laurent were with me. We travel at least once a year together and also if their work load permits, see exhibitions. Our tastes in art are more or less the same. In music, the answer is no and I will not induce them to come with me to contemporary or modern music concerts....
There was the famous Reims Cathedral to visit. A small service was on when we arrived and the choir was singing its heart out. I would think to stay warm as the three of us were very quickly chilled to the bone. We looked at the Chagall window (I preferred the modern windows) and after perhaps 20 minutes inside - left.
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| Reims Catherdral at 10 am on Sunday |
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| The Chagall window in the centre |
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| A modern approach |
The small Beaux Arts museum (which closed at 12-30 on a Sunday. What do people do in a Provincial town on a Sunday afternoon?) was a delight. A mixtures of styles and periods. Some artists we didn’t know at all. Quite a large collection of Cranach portraits which are not all on show. On their Internet page they describe the traditional and «reassuring work». I’m sorry Jerome was caught taking photographs as there were one or two artists - modern - who looked interesting.
After lunch, we walked to Pommery. 30 minutes when we crossed not man nor his dog. Even the impressive entrance to Pommery was silent. I was hoping there would be no crowds inside.  |
| Laurent and Jerome |
The huge entrance hall was more than impressive. The Champagne bar looked tiny in comparison with Barrel or the wooden doors that led to the cellars.
We were summoned for the visit, alas we were not alone. Obviously such events need to be organized but I do not like organized visits of any kind. Rushed through and invariably little time to stop and enjoy what one wants to. This was to be the case during the hour long walk through the cellars. We were hurried from one exhibit to the next.
Since 2003 Pommery has had a contemporary art exhibition in the depths of their cellars. This was the 9th edition. I had called to reserve in January and the 4th of March was the first available date."Called "La Fabrique Sonore" or perhaps "The Sound Factory"?
Down, down, down we go. 116 steps like Orphée but instead of going to hell you are going into exotic country. Champagne. Just a few steps down and a lamp salutes you with an organ note. A little further on another and finally at the last step you have heard three notes which announce ? (Pierre Bastien- Paper Organs : 2011) You are welcomed by a sparking glass chandelier with a light which intensifies as the crowd moves on.
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| The Steps down |
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| 8bit-kermesse |
Dive into that pool of water - if only one could. The surface is like a strip of ice and underneath there are microphones which listen to you and change the waves on a screen...(Thomas McIntosh 2002) Ondulation)
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| Ondulation and pool |
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| Waves of Ondulation |
Did you hear the champagne popping when you went into this Blue cave stretching up to the ceiling? (Robin Meier & Ali Momeni 2011)
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| Blue Cave and Champagne popping |
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| The Bell Swing |
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| Changing Disco lights |
Perhaps it was better to watch the tribal colours of neons change and created as if for a disco in the depth of the cellars (Galerie Bristol 14 2011)
Or be saddended by a children’s choral as through animal skulls their voices rose truimphantly...(Théo Mercier & Clin Johnco 2011)
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| Théo Mercier & Clin Johnco |
Now you can play a tune on Jean Michel Othoniel musical instrument (2011) and finally ride away to dream land on Dzine’s bicycle (2011).
I wish you well.
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| Dzines bicycle "In Situ" |
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| Jean Michel Othoniel |
There were many other artists in this Labyrinth of sound and light. Laurent was there to take the photos at the end of the crowd. Jerome and I were first to see each artist’s contribution. How I wish we could have taken more time and traveled that road of sonority alone....
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| Maggie and Laurent |
Commentaires
Fully agree on the depressive side of a provincial town on a cold sunday morning. A bit dissapointed by the cathedral too (except when seen under black clouds !). Really glad we discovered so many Foujita paintings in this little museum. The Pommery was indeed such a thrill ! Closing my eyes, I could imagine myself in le chateau de Barbe Bleue ! Most of the contemporary pieces of art were really interesting, although I think they underplayed the relationship between this magic place & sounds. Mc Intosh Water Ripples will resonate for long in my head.