aixcentric

Two hundred and seventy-one festivals!

That’s the number taking place in local town centres, villages, parks and open-spaces this summer as  colourful programmes of music, dance, historical enactment, stand-up, tribute bands burst into life.  Here is an excellent website which lists them all – a total of 1869 separate events:  http://www.terredefestivals.fr/ 

Photographers will be flocking to Arles from tomorrow for the annual Rencontres d’Arles Festival which this year has 60 expos celebrating 30 years of the Arles-based ENSP – Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Photographie. 90-minuted guided tours of the exhibition sites can be organised through the ticket outlets. Until 23rd Sept. www.rencontres-arles.com

Réné Seyssaud – L’Ivresse de la Couleur is a retrospective of this Marseillais painter (1867-1952).  He worked in many of the seaside towns in the Var and from his final home and studio on the Etang de Berre. He painted landscapes, sea-scapes and still-lifes with bright colours using paints he made himself.  14th July – 18th November. At the Fondation Regards de Provence, palais des Arts, Cours Julien, Marseille.  Open daily 10-18:00hrs, exc Aug 15th.  Admission 5€. www.museeregardsdeprovence.com

Across town, the Fondation Monticelli has an exhibition of work by another Marseille-born artist Charles Camoin.  A colleague of Matisse and Manguin, he was a very successful painter, his colourful works influence by the Fauves and by his acquaintance Cézanne.  For more info, click here: http://www.fondationmonticelli.com/expositions

Doesn’t this still-life by Camoin look like the perfect Provençal table?

The summer evening markets – Les Calades – in the cours Mirabeau will be  starting later this month and will run throughout August – the TO should soon have dates.

‘Les Instants d’Ete 2012’ is a programme  bringing big-screen films to parks throughout Aix for the next 2 months of warm evenings – you just have to bring a blanket and picnic!  Click for details: http://www.mairie-aixenprovence.fr/Instants-d-ete-2012