aixcentric

…well it soon will be when the new ‘Quel Amour’ programme launches on 14th February.  This  is the 7-month cultural extravaganza planned by the MP2018 committee who were inspired by the European Year of Culture back in 2013 which did so much to galvanise the arts scene in Marseille-Provence.

Here’s what to look out for:

14th-15th February:  ‘Les enfants ouvrent le bal’ – theatre, dance and circus events organised for children throughout the region. https://www.mp2018.com/evenements/les-enfants-ouvrent-le-bal-2/

14th February: ‘C’est bien parti!’…choirs will be orchestrated by the Festival of Aix at the Grand Théatre de Provence at 14:30; the Ballet Prejlocaj in Aix will be performing extracts from ‘Romeo et Juliette’, at 15:00, outside the Pavillon Noir.  Free. https://www.mp2018.com/evenements/cest-bien-parti/

14th February: Un Grand Baiser – a big kiss – will be photographed at Marseille’s Vieux Port at 19:00hrs.  This will be accompanied by the amazingly creative Group F who will be using fire, fireworks and music to launch the programme.  MuCEM is open til midnight with special events.

17th February: Group F will be animating events at 19:00hrs in Arles, Martigues, Istres, Aubagne and Salon. The towns have quite different approaches=s….Martigues for instance is talking about love in the community, social solidarity and so having collections for organisations like Restos du Coeur.  Arles is having funky music.  https://www.mp2018.com/temps_fort/le-grand-baiser/

16-18th February: the opening weekend, Deux Jours, Deux Nuits sees musical and theatrical events throughout the region. https://www.mp2018.com/temps_fort/2-jours-2-nuits/ 

Of course it wouldn’t be a French festival without food being involved.  Fifty restaurants will be offering special menus from 14-18th February: https://www.mp2018.com/evenements/ateliers-artistiques-autour-du-theme-quel-amour-aix-en-provence-18-02-2018/

Not much going on in Aix to join this immense love-in.  Not even one restaurant in the 50 listed by La Provence is in Aix!

So it’s two thumbs up to the Fondation Vasarely which has come up with an engaging programme of talks and workshops for all ages.

On Thursday 15th February, at 1800hrs, there will be a free talk by Trevor White entitled ‘ Nos Yeux Trompeux’.  He explains: ‘Do you appreciate art, are you an artist or photographer? Want to learn more about how we really see the world around us? I’ll be giving a presentation on how we really see. I will finish with an example of a Vasarely ambiguous scene and deconstruct it to show how and why it works’. 

More here: Nos Yeux Trompeurs a Vasarely A5ax1

If you haven’t visited this fascinating gallery, now is a good time to do so as they have organised lots of activity around ‘Quel Amour’.

Details here: http://r.info-fondationvasarely.com/7rdpbi936gc.html?t=1517389539