aixcentric

The 20th edition of Phot’Aix has launched and this year the theme is Africa. There’s a big show at the Musée des Tapissseries which runs, hopefully, until 28th December.

Plus there’s the parcours, a trail of micro-shows at 24 venues dotted around town.  Here’s the link for details: https://fontaineobscure13.wixsite.com/photographie/les-parcours.

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There’s another interesting photo-expo in centre-ville, this time at the Galerie Motu which is showcasing the work of American photographer Jamie Beck.  During 60 days of lockdown, he did a daily photograph, often inspired by Renaissance paintings.  The Galerie Motu is at 13 rue de Lacepede and is on facebook.  Can’t find details of opening times – perhaps someone could supply them as this looks interesting.

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Cafes in Aix and Marseille must stay closed…https://www.laprovence.com/actu/en-direct/6136373/bouches-du-rhone-la-prefecture-affirme-que-les-bars-restent-fermes-a-aix-et-marseille.html

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This Sunday, 4th October, being the first of the month, it’s free entry to the municipal museums in Aix.

Plus

All the permanent collections of the municipal museums in Marseille are now free until the end of 2021.  Here’s the list:

– La Vieille Charité : le Musée d’Archéologie méditerranéenne de Marseille et le  MAAOA
– Le Musée d’Histoire de Marseille situé au Centre Bourse
– Le Musée des Beaux-Arts au Palais Longchamp
– Le Musée des arts décoratifs de la faïence et de la mode avec une nouvelle exposition “L’héritage surréaliste dans la mode”
– Le Mémorial des Déportations
– Le Musée de la Moto
– Le Musée Grobet-Labadié
– Le Musée Cantini
– Le Musée d’Histoire naturelle

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News broke late yesterday that cafes, bars and restaurants across the whole Aix-Marseille Metropole are to be closed completely for two weeks from Saturday.  The decision which came from the Health Ministry in Paris also affects sports halls, gyms and salles des fetes. The local reaction has been furious with elected officials including the new mayor of Marseille saying that they weren’t consulted: https://www.laprovence.com/article/france-monde/6120509/direct-laprovence-coronavirus-a-aix-marseille-le-reconfinement-des-bars-et-restaurants-provoque-lin (more…)

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I’m reading that events this coming weekend in Aix and Marseille, as well as other communities along the coast have been cancelled due to rising infection levels. https://www.frequence-sud.fr/art-2591-journees_du_patrimoine_-_aix_en_provence_aix_en_provence.  The cancellation is also flagged up on the Aix tourism website: https://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/blog/journees-patrimoine-aix-en-provence/ – it looks like the whole programme is affected.

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France, together with other French-speaking nations like Canada, has just launched its alternative to Netflix/Amazon Prime.

TV5MondePlus gathers together popular films, TV shows and documentaries, which are subtitled in 5 languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Arabic.

(more…)

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I  have to admit I fell for the poster – but also the topic.

This exhibition focuses on portraits of women – as godesses, allegorical figures, courtesans, mothers, wives, lovers; but also woman as a painter, here represented by Artemisia Gentilieschi, with work taken from the museum’s collection.

Artemisia is also the subject of an exhibition opening next month at London’s National Gallery.

The Musee de la Castre is part of Cannes’ old town – great views and little restaurants nestled around the foot of the hill.  Until 15th November.

http://www.cannes.com/fr/mairie/annuaire-pratique/lieux/eqt_munic/musee-de-la-castre.html

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If starting French, or improving your level, is on your rentrée to-do list, here’s an offer from Chantal and Fabienne at Destination Francais.  They teach small groups or give one-to-one classes in cafes in Aix and write:

We can offer you : (more…)

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Well that was a strange old summer.   When I signed off, at the end of June, for the Aixcentric summer break, la rentrée and September seemed ages away and I blithely assumed that by now life would be returning to normal.  But here we are and the uncertainty continues. Schools and offices are tentatively opening, most people’s plans are up in the air and on a personal level we continue to keep our heads down in England.

So what, I wondered, should I do with the blog? In fact Aixcentric is going into its 10th year and I just thought blow it, let’s keep going.  There’s lots to do locally in the open air and the museums etc have gone to great lengths to make their environments as safe as possible.  I will be reporting on cancellations – I have quite a few of those to write about – but also on what IS happening in Aix, Marseille and surrounding towns and villages.

Tell your contacts about Aixcentric – it’s easy to register, and posts have clear titles so anything irrelevant to you can be deleted – though I hope not!  Also do let me know if there is anything interesting happening in your vicinity so I can follow up and share with all.

Action starts tomorrow with lots of news.  It’s good to be back blogging!

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La Sieste, 1905, Henri Manguin

Time for the annual Aixcentric break for summer.

But this time it’s a summer that will be rather different to the ones we’re used to with many large gatherings cancelled – or pushed back – and the usual village fetes and local cafés modified in a strange new world of masks, hand-gels and Perspex.

The thing about Provence though is that you can get away from crowds.  There are some wonderful walks that take you up into the hills for magnificent views; beaches or coves where you can find space for a peaceful paddle;  inland lakes or rivers with boat and kayak hire; scenic picnic spots; pretty villages to explore; and galleries that you often get to yourself.

Tomorrow the Fete des Terrasses starts across the region – café tables are newly spaced out to welcome everyone back for a chilled glass of rosé. Or take a lead from painter Henri Manguin’s wife above and enjoy a siesta in the shade. Perhaps it’s good for us all to step back from our crowded lives and take a little time, even just a few hours, for rest and reflection.

Keep safe and have a happy summer!

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