A-Part Art Festival Starts Friday July 5

The fourth annual a-part contemporary art festival (yes, it's called "a-part") is a-bout to begin,  bringing a wide range of exhibits, events, performances and installations to various venues throughout the Alpilles region of Provence. This year's fest features 50 artists showing in 25 venues in seven towns and villages. 

As in year's past, most of the exhibits launch with their own vernissage (opening) and the artist or artists are almost always in attendance. All vernissages and shows are free and open to the public. So if you love art...or meeting artists...or just feel like enjoying a glass of wine and a nibble with like-minded people in a pretty place...jot down these dates. And be sure to check the a-part website for a map so you can take in as many of the shows as possible as you toodle around Provence. Don't forget to bring your checkbook because you're sure to find something you love! Virtually all the exhibits run until August 25 and all the info is on the a-part website here. You can email info@festival-apart.com with questions and you can see the full schedule here.

Friday July 5 at Maussane-les-Alpilles: 7 p.m. Opening Ceremony of the Festival at the C.C.V.B.A (on the Ave. de la Vallée des Baux, behind the Mairies), with artists Ana, Daniel Aulagnier, Gérard Fromanger, Frédéric Fourdinier, Jeronimo Hagerman, Tessa Joosse. Also, in front of the Mayor’s Office: artist Christian Gaillard. At Le Lavoir: Jean-Blaise Picheral

Saturday July 6 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: 11:30 a.m. inauguration at Les Antiques with artists Philippe Chitarrini and  Yoann Crepin.

Sunday July 7 at Saint-Étienne-de-Provence: 7 p.m. picnic at Altavès with artist Jeronimo Hagerman. More info to come soon. 

Monday, July 8 at Les-Baux-de-Provence: 7 p.m. Vernissages at:

*Post Tenebras Lux (on Main Street or Grand-Rue), with artist Mounir Fatmi.

*Hôtel de Manville (The Mairie, on Main Street), with artists Frédéric Coché, Philippe Druillet,  Demián Flores, Liberatore,  Ilan Manouach, ORLAN,  Pleks, Daniel Spoerri  and Ma Tselin.

*On the walls of the village with artist Bertrand Gadenne.

*La Cure (Place Saint-Vincent),  with artists Ji Dahaï and Alexandre Rocca, Stéphane Guiran, Marie Piselli, Pascal Schmitt and Elizabeth Wejebe Iberri.

Tuesday, July 9 at Les-Baux-de-Provence: 7 p.m. projections at Les Carrieres de Lumières with a discussion with philosopher Philippe Serres and artist Bertrand Gadenne.

Wednesday, July 10 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: 7 p.m. Vernissage at the Château des Alpilles with artists Frédéric Fourdinier, Francis Guerrier, Jeronimo Hagerman, Scenocosme, Vincent Scali and Barbara Thaden.

Thursday, July 11 at Tarascon: 5 p.m. inauguration at the Jardins de Payan (at the Mas de Payan on Chemin Mannoni), with artists Daniel Aulagnier, Jean Daviot, Marc Nucera, Constantin Rusu. This will be followed by 7:00 p.m. vernissages at:

*The Chapelle de la Persévérance (#8 Rue Proudhon), with artist Claude Lévêque.

* Les Cordeliers (on Place Frédéric Mistral), with artists Claire Becker, Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard, Régine Cirotteau, Jesus Diaz De Vivar, Caroline Minjolle, Jeronimo Hagerman, Natalie Luder, Pleix, Julie Tanit, Daniel Spoerri and Elizabeth Wejebe Iberri.

Friday, July 12 at Eygalières: 7 p.m. Vernissage at the Église Saint Laurent with artist Chiharu Shiota and L'Atelier at Studio Stephane Guiran (on Avenue Leon Blum) with artists Halida Boughriet, Eric Bourret, Hayoun Kwon, Christophe Lucien and Enrique Ramirez.

Saturday, July 13 at Les-Baux-de-Provence: 7 p.m. projections at the Carrieres de Lumières with Bertrand Gadenne.

Sunday, July 14 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: 11:30 a.m. Brunch at the Mas de l’Amarine with artist Natalie Luder.  More info to come soon.  

Sunday Aug. 11 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: 11:30 a.m. brunch at Mas de l’Amarine in St. Remy with artist Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard.

Monday August 12 at Saint-Etienne-du-Gres: 5:30 p.m. Guided tour/visit with artist Frederic Fourdinier.

Monday August 12 at St. Remy: 6:30 p.m. Vernissage for Picnic-Invasion by Jeronimo Hagerman at Agence Bosc Architects (#38 blvd. Victor Hugo).  

Thursday August 22 at St. Remy: 7 pm musical performance soiree with Jacopo Baboni-Schillingi at Mas de lÁmarine.

Friday August 23  at Les Baux de Provence: 10 pm Auction of selected a-part Artworks at Hotel La Cabro d'Or.

Saturday August 24 at Mouries: Tasting on the Grass from 5 pm to 8 pm with artists Ana, Frederic Fourdinier and Francis Guerrier.

Photos: (1) A video installation by Bertrand Gadenne, who will be showing his work at the Carrieres de Lumiere and on the city walls in Les Baux. (2) A photo by Regine Cirotteau, who is exhibiting at the Cloitre des Cordeliers. (3)  Marc Nucera's ''Poisson-ivre, 2012,'' made from Douglas Pine. Photo by Michel Jouve. Nucera will be exhibiting at Les Jardins de Payan in Tarascon. (4) A seriograph by Jesus Dias De Vivar, called ''Martha cocotte, what becomes a legend most.'' You can see Diaz De Vivar's work at Les Cordeliers in Tarascon. (5) A photo called La Lecon d'Anatomie, 2003, by Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard, who'll show her work at Mas de l'Amarine in St. Remy and the Cloitre des Cordeliers in Tarascon. (6) ''Picnic Invasion'' by Jeronimo Hagerman. You can sees this installation in St. Remy at Agence Bosc Architects. Hagerman will also have installations at Les Cordeliers in Tarascon, Chateau des Alpilles in St. Remy and C.C.V.B.A. in Maussane.