When walking the streets of Uzès it is hard not to notice that it is a city rich in history and a centre of artistic expression. In fact, it has been officially labelled a "City of Art and History". Art galleries abound and you can often find a painter working on her painting on the side street in front of her gallery, or a potter spinning his clay in the middle of Place aux Herbes. Last night I accompanied my friends, Rachel and Patrice to an exhibition called Talents d'Uzès, held in the hall of the old bishop's palace. It showcased the work of eighteen local craftsmen/women, including a jeweler, a luthier, a hatmaker, painters, sculptors, potters, furniture makers and metalworkers, and the work of eight students from the local Lycée des Métiers d'Art Georges Guynemer.
We have walked past this Lycée a number of times as it is on the main road that circles the town and have seen the artsy looking students hanging about outside, but I never realized what kind of Lycée it was. It is for those interested in learning the arts, and I don't mean drama, dance, and music. They teach students how to work with stone, metal, wood, furniture making and upholstery, etc. What a great option for students to have. The ones who were featured at this exhibition had won a contest with the pieces they had created and I was blown away with their talent. I wish I had taken pictures of all of their objets d'art!The exhibition was packed with Uzètiens, including the mayor. We mingled and enjoyed a lovely glass of rosé, a so-so glass of red, and some fougasse, which is a kind of foccacia bread with tapenade tucked in the middle.
My favourite pieces were the metal escalier (see picture below) created by Franck Guérineau, the beautiful instrument created by the luthier Laurent Blanchard, the stone fountain created by sculptor Catherine Baudry, and especially the Cube ring (don't have a picture of it, but check out his link) created by Bénédikt Aichelé. ( I want it badly!)
We finished off the evening with a good bottle of red and some snacks back at my place. All in all a lovely evening!
I'm including some links below of some of the artists and of the Lycée. Check them out!
www.lebijou.fr (jeweler)
www.cabinet-maker.com
www.lesbellespierres.overblog.com
www.blanchard-luthier.fr
www.lyc-guynemer-uzes.ac-montpellier.fr
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