Thanksgiving in Provence 2026

Because I live to please you, once again I've rounded up a great selection of American Thanksgiving celebrations here in the South of France. Some have been on my list many times before, others are new this year. 

Who attends these gala soirées? Local expats of course, but also hungry French folks and other Europeans, travelers, house guests...really anyone who's game and likes turkey! Whichever celebration you choose, you can expect comforting, traditional holiday foods--often with a French twist--and a festive, welcoming atmosphere.

Of the ten events below, nine have space available as of today; one is sold out but has a wait list.

If you prefer to eat at home but don’t feel like cooking, the three Biocoop - La Coumpagnie stores in Aix offer Thanksgiving takeaway, with an eat-in option at one of them. All the details on that are below.

If you know of any Thanksgivings that aren't listed here, please email me (whattodoinprovence@gmail.com) so I can share the info. Wishing you all a most-wonderful holiday, wherever you decide to spend it! 

A Family-Style Fete in Tarascon

The food, wine and travel club called La Table des Amis de Provence will host Thanksgiving on Thursday November 26 and all are welcome…members and non-members alike. The festive luncheon will be at Le Mas de Lilou in Tarascon. Host Catherine Burtonboy (@lemasdelilou) is a Belgian-born private chef, caterer and cooking instructor who lived in the US for many years before settling in Provence 14 years ago. Le Mas de Lilou is Catherine's beautiful home base for many of her culinary endeavors...and as you can imagine, she's a superb host. Weather permitting, the party begins outdoors at 1 pm with an aperitif and seasonal nibbles, then moves inside for a splendid buffet: turkey and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans and roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta. Dessert will be pumpkin pie, pecan pie and apple pie...and wine is included. Pricing is €75 for La Table members, €80 for non-members and guests. Catherine can welcome 40 people max and as of today there were four seats left so if you want to join the party, sign up tout suite! For details and tickets, click here.

Thanksgiving at Les Halles in Avignon 

Once again, American chef Jon Chiri will offer a holiday plat du jour lunch on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, at his cafe and cooking school in the Les Halles Market in Avignon. Jon will be serving brined, slow-cooked turkey leg roulade with all the accompaniments. Lunch is 24€…or 32€ with pumpkin pie and a glass of mulled wine. (Other wines and drinks will be available for purchase). Reservations are available between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. For info or to book: +33 6 46 89 85 33, contact@jonathanchiri.com. 

A Homey Holiday Dinner in the Luberon

The charming restaurant and boutique hotel Le Saint Hubert in Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt (@le.saint.hubert) will host a grand Thanksgiving buffet served around a large family table on Thursday, November 26. The apero starts at 6 pm, dinner at 7 pm. It’s €48 per person and drinks are extra. The meal begins with a salad of Brussels sprouts, nuts and apples followed by a vélouté de champignons. Then it's on to roast turkey with gravy and chestnut stuffing, cranberry sauce à l’orange, pureed sweet potatoes, roasted mushrooms with thyme, gratin dauphinois and braised kale. Desserts will be pumpkin pie and pecan pie with Chantilly. To reserve: +33 4 90 75 42 02 or info@lesainthubert.co 

Painting of Le Saint Hubert by Florence Champ (@florencechamppp).

Restaurant Le Ten in Uzes

Once again, the lovely restaurant Le Ten in Uzes (@letenuzes) is hosting Thanksgiving dinner and once again, it sold out early.  But you're in luck because they're doing a lunch as well. Same day, same price...with tables bookable from 12 to 1:30 pm. To reserve, call +33 4 66 22 10 93, email (contact@tenuzes.fr) or best of all, book on Zenchef using this link.

Eat In or Take Away at Biocoop in Aix

This will be the 10th year that Biocoop - La Coumpagnie in Aix (@biocooplacoumpagnie) has offered homemade organic Thanksgiving meals, made from owner Rick Harrison’s family recipes. This year they'll offer an eat-in option for lunch on Thursday Nov. 26 at their Pioline (840 ave du Camp de Menthe) and Puyricard/Célony (20 chemin des Gervais) locations, as well as take out or delivery from all three of their service delis, including their location near the center of Aix (4 rue Pierre de Coubertin). This year Rick has decided to lower the take out/delivery price to 35€ per person for the complete menu, ‘’in solidarity for keeping costs down during this holiday season.’’

The delivery and take-away service has been a huge success for people who want to celebrate at home...but not cook. ''Our French, English and American clientele really love it and we have a very loyal clientele who comes back year after year," Rick tells me. ''Anyone who wants a home-cooked holiday meal without the fuss!” As in year’s past, the menu (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and classic cheesecake) will be “100% organic, 0% GMOs and 100% homemade from American family recipes.” To come for lunch, no reservations are needed...just show up. For takeaway or delivery, please order with Rick before Monday Nov. 23 at 5 pm: +33 (0)6 81 34 85 74, rick@biocoop-lacoumpagnie.fr

Anglo American Group of Provence

The Aix-based non-profit AAGP will take a little road trip this year to celebrate Thanksgiving at Restaurant La Galine in St. Remy (@lebistrotdelagaline). It’s a typical Thanksgiving meal of turkey with all the fixin's, served family style at tables of six, from noon to 3 pm. It’s 65€ per person whether you’re a member or not. For those who want it, there will be bus service from Aix to Saint Remy…free for members and 15€ per person for non-members. As of today there were three seats left on the bus.  AAGP is a social group for English speakers both native and not. Activities include hiking, pétanque, book group, coffee mornings, French conversation, bowling, wine tasting, bridge, cultural outings and monthly lunches at restaurants or in members’ homes. AAGP has 400 members and annual membership is 45€. To buy Thanksgiving tickets, click here or call La Galine at +33 04 90 92 11 81 and let them know you’re with the group. 

Thanksgiving at Lou Calen in the Var

At the 36-room ‘’eco resort’’ Lou Calen in Cotignac--which is classified as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France—a special Thanksgiving menu will be served in the Bistro restaurant on November 26, at lunch and at dinner. The price is 42€, drinks are extra and the regular menu will also be available; more details will be up on the hotel website soon. To book for Thanksgiving, click here. But why not book a room and make a weekend of it? You deserve it! 

American Club of the Riviera in Nice

In Nice, the American Club of the Riviera will once again host an elegant Thanksgiving fête for members, their guests and anyone in the community who’d enjoy experiencing this traditional holiday feast. It’s November 26 at the Hotel Negresco, with a Champagne reception at noon and lunch at 12:30. Price is €165 for members, €195 guests. This includes the festive reception plus a traditional three-course Thanksgiving meal and all beverages (1/2 bottle of wine per person, mineral water and coffee). The room holds 130 people max; if the event sells out, priority is given to ACR Members. Jacket and tie are required please and the reservation deadline is November 15. Note: If you join the ACR now, your membership covers the rest of the year and all of 2027. That means you'll pay member rates for Thanksgiving and all upcoming events. For info on membership, click here. For more info or to reserve for Thanksgiving:  https://americancluboftheriviera.wildapricot.org/event-6892488

Stars of Monaco and the Monaco Ambassadors Club

Stars'n'Bars in Monaco, a Monegasque institution for three decades, has reopened under its new name, Stars of Monaco and they’re continuing their longstanding tradition of Thanksgiving. It’s November 26 from 7 to 11 pm, hosted in partnership with the Monaco Ambassadors Club. (In years past, you could join the host group or dine on your own...I'm waiting to hear if it's the same this year.) The restaurant is located at  6 Quai Antoine, overlooking Port Hercule. For info, contact Stars of Monaco (+377 97 97 95 95, contact@starsofmonaco.com) or the Monaco Ambassadors Club: info@mac.mc, +33 (0)6 70 63 95 34 or click here (https://www.mac.mc/product/thanksgiving-dinner/)

Sold Out: Restaurant Spark in Nice

The good news at Restaurant Spark in Nice (@sparklivefire) is that the special Thanksgiving menu (wood-fired turkey, maple bourbon bacon gravy and lots of delish-sounding sides and desserts) will be offered at dinner for three days: November 26, 27 and 28. (One service only at 7 pm; 59€ per person includes a welcome drink.) The bad news is that all three nights are sold out…the owners tell me that last year at Thanksgiving lots of regulars booked ahead for this year. But there’s definitely a waiting list so give it a shot by emailing them at: aiqing@sparklivefire.com.

The Perfect Provencal Picnic

A vineyard pique-nique seems to be one of those iconic French experiences that many travelers dream about: tables or blankets laid out amongst gorgeous vines…an array of simple, irresistible foods...copious amounts of local wine and laughter...a little nap in the shade. Over the years I’ve tried many times to find wineries that offer this kind of experience for my guests and clients…so I was delighted when one of my favorite local winemakers (who’s also a passionate and talented cook) announced that she’s now offering picnics at her family’s award-winning domaine in St. Remy.

She and her husband are second-generation winemakers and the third generation farming this beautiful sun-drenched property in the foothills of the Alpilles Mountains. They currently produce a dozen different wines (red, white, rosé and sparkling), all of them biodynamic, and roughly 60,000 bottles each year.

You can have this new picnic experience two ways. The standard offering, let’s call it the Perfect Provencal Picnic, will be an array of cold foods presented in a casual, serve-yourself way. My friend will gather a huge spread of the most-delicious foods from her favorite markets in Provence…all of it fresh, local and seasonal. Expect lots of vegetables, charcuterie, olives, cheeses, fruit and breads. In season you’ll find tomatoes in salads, gazpacho and tarts; a seasonal fruit salad might include strawberries, apricots, peaches, cherries and fresh mint. Dessert might be something like a Tropezienne cake or olive-oil cake with fresh fruit.

Or, for those who want a more elevated experience, she’ll happily include prepared dishes such as roast chicken, beef or pork, with Camargue rice or tabouli salad or roasted potatoes with herbes de Provence. Sauces are likely to be light and fresh, such as salsa verde. Everything will be served on beautiful dishes with proper cutlery and linen napkins.

‘’I’m happy to customize menus completely based on our clients’ tastes,’’ she says.

While traditional Provencal style menus are likely to be the most popular, Mexican and Asian-themed meals are also possible.

Pricing for the standard offering is 50€ per person for lunch plus 30€ for a wine tasting so 80€ per person; the elevated experience with wine tasting is 120€ per person. Kids up to 12 pay half price.

Your picnic will be served outside the winery tasting room but tables in the vineyard can be arranged instead, for an additional fee.

Lunch can begin anytime between 11 am and 1 pm and will last two to three hours. If you arrive at 11 am, you can have a quick tour of the vineyard while sipping a glass of wine, of course! Then as you settle in and start to nibble, my friend (who is also a sommelier), will discuss the wines she’ll be pouring with your lunch. (Kids will have juice.) Or, if you want to begin your visit with a more-traditional tasting in the winery’s cave, that’s possible for an extra charge…just ask.

Either way, the lunches are generally available seven days a week but should be booked at least four days in advance.

Please note that the minimum group size is four adults but larger groups—up to 20 people or more--can easily be accommodated, with enough advance notice.

Since this is a brand-new, somewhat under-the-radar experience, I’ll be handling the booking for now, through my company ProvencePost Travel. But you’ll be connected to the winemaker/chef/sommelier very early in the process, so you and she can begin planning the most-memorable private picnic for your friends and family! For more info or to book: juliemautner@aol.com. Bon App!

Photos: (1) A scene from Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe (1959) by Jean Renoir. Directed by the son of the impressionist painter Pierre-August Renoir, the film was shot in the South of France. (2-6) Just a little taste of the type of dishes you might be served. (7) Perfect vineyard views for your picnic!

Rencontres Photo Fest Opens Tomorrow in Arles

The 57th Rencontres d'Arles, the international photography festival, begins tomorrow July 6 and runs through October 4, 2026.

As in year’s past, the festival will present a wide array of exhibits, screenings, talks and projections in venues across Arles and beyond.

Some exhibits will remain on view until the end of the festival while others have limited runs.

One of this year's main themes is Des Mondes à Relire ("Worlds to Reread"), featuring exhibits and events that look at Africa through ‘’liberation, visual culture and contemporary reinterpretation.’’ Ghana! Rêver l'Indépendance, for example, explores how photography helped forge a new national identity after the country gained independence.

Another strong thematic thread this year is the living world, from animals and plants to geology and organic matter. One exhibit on photographers and animals brings together major international talents such as Lucien Clergue, Martin Parr, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, and Sebastião Salgado.

In general, photo shows are open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (July 6 to August 30), and from 9:30 am to 7 pm (August 31 to October 4). However, certain sites have specific hours so be sure the check the schedule. The last entry to most exhibits is 15 minutes before closing.

As in years past, the festive opening week of the Rencontres (July 6 to 12), offers a wide range of special events such as screenings and projections, guided tours, talks and evening programs; this year there are 115 open-to-the-public events during opening week. Many of the featured photographers will be in town.

For example on Tuesday, July 7 from 9:45 p.m. to midnight in the Ancient Theatre (1 Rue du Cloître), French musician, composer and filmmaker Chassol (full name Christophe Chassol) will present an original program immersing the audience in the early days of photography. Blending music, sound, and images, Chassol he’ll ‘’explore the major milestones of this visual revolution: early photographic processes, the art of portraiture, explorations of the world, nascent modernity, capturing movement, and the beginnings of cinema.’’

Chassol is best known for his concept of "ultrascore" — a technique he developed in which he takes filmed footage of real life (conversations, street scenes, nature sounds, cultural events, etc.) and harmonizes and musicalizes the natural rhythms and melodies already present in the sounds and speech. Classically trained, his work is deeply rooted in jazz, funk and Caribbean music — his family is from Martinique.

The same evening, Edward Steichen's great-granddaughter Ariana Stahmer will share an intimate account of the renowned photographer, revealing the profound connections between his work, his passion for gardens, and the women who shaped his life.

Rounding out the Tuesday evening program, Canadian artist Stan Douglas will explore ‘’questions of collective memory, powers and resistance’’ through films, photos and installations, often in dialogue with music…and the presentation of the Best Photo Books of the Year Awards. Evening programs are generally presented in French but translations are sometimes offered.

The popular annual event called The Night of Year happens on Saturday July 11, on the industrial site of the former Papeteries Étienne, which is exceptionally open to the public for this event. The work of 40 photographers will be projected continuously on large screens along with live music, DJ sets, food trucks and bars.

Altogether there are 47 Rencontres exhibits this year including 11 ''Arles Associé'' exhibitions (plus 12 ''Grand Arles Express'' exhibits, spanning an area from Mougins to Montpellier via Marseille, Aix and Nîmes.) Some 400 artists are participating, showing 4,000-plus works in more than 28 different venues...plus all the places where opening-week events will happen.

You’ll find all the 2026 Rencontres info in French and in English on the festival site here and you can follow them on IG here. 

To plan your visit, a good place to start is here.

For all the activities during opening week click here.

For info on all the evening programs in English, I found this page very helpful.

There’s a detailed English-language overview of the 2026 program here.

And for a copy of the full press kit in English, click here!

Finally, if you’d like to experience the Rencontres but find it all a bit overwhelming, a couple of my favorite tour guides have once again offered to be Rencontres sherpas! They can help you plan your visit, purchase tickets, accompany you in Arles, book a great restaurant for lunch or dinner and possibly provide transportation to and from Arles as well. For more info on that: WhatToDoinProvence@gmail.com.

Photos: (1) The 2026 Rencontres poster features a photo by Carlos Idun-Tawiah called ''Many Reasons to Live Again.'' (2) Photo by Lisa Oppenheim. (3) Photo by James Barnor from the show Ghana! Dreaming Independence. (4) Photo by Park Chan-Wook. (5) Photo by Jean-Baptiste Huynh. (6) Photo by Ayana Jackson, from her Rencontres show at the Abbaye de Montmajour outside Arles. (7) ''Wings of the Hawk, 42nd Street'' photo by William Klein. (8) Sunflower #13 by Edward Steichen, with printer's color separation guide and gray scale. (9) Photo by Park Chan-Wook. (10) Photo by Harry Gruyaert.

Where are the Michelin Stars in Provence?

For chefs and foodies alike, it's an exciting harbinger of spring: the announcement each year of the new Michelin-star ratings in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide France & Monaco 2026 (aka the Guide Rouge). With few exceptions, Michelin has been publishing French travel and restaurant guides since the year 1900 (although strictly speaking, the star-rating system began in 1926 and the three-tier system was introduced in 1931.) The history of Michelin restaurant ratings is here.

The 2026 Guide Rouge announcements were made last month at a ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the first time in Michelin's history that the prestigious event was hosted in the Principality. And the guide itself is now available in bookstores across France and on Amazon. But once again, because I live to please you, I've compiled a list of all the starred restaurants across Provence, the Côte d'Azur and Monaco to make it super easy for you! 

There are six departments in the region known as PACA (Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur) and you'll find all the Michelin-starred restaurants in PACA and Monaco in my list below, organized department by department. Each restaurant appears with its current 2026 star rating; restaurants new to the list are in red.

This year there was just one new three-star restaurant in all of France: Les Morainières in Jongieux in the Savoie, owned by chef Michaël Arnoult and his wife Ingrid. That brings the total number of restaurants in France and Monaco with this top accolade to 31. There are 84 two stars and 553 one stars...a total of 668 starred restaurants for 2026. To read about all the newly starred restaurants in France, click here.

Once again, Michelin has also given some un-starred restaurants its "Bib Gourmand" designation, meaning good food at low prices; the Bib Gourmand is often considered a precursor to a first star. Bib Gourmands, Michelin says, can be relied upon for ''convivial atmospheres, careful cooking and fair prices.'' This year there are 37 Bib Gourmands in PACA and you can see them all here. Altogether there are 430 Bib Gourmand restaurants across France.

Michelin has also continued to give Green Stars for sustainable gastronomy, an award distinct and separate from regular stars. The Green Star celebrates restaurants for eco and sustainable practices such as working with seasonal ingredients and sustainable producers, waste reduction, recycling, etc. The Green Star program launched in 2020 and you can read about it here.

This year Michelin also presented awards celebrating sommeliers, service, young chef talent and more. And ten restaurants were championed for the central role that desserts play in the gastronomic experience.

At the awards ceremony in Monaco, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, praised the vitality of the French and Monegasque gastronomic scene. “Our inspectors have been particularly impressed by the audacity of a new generation of chefs who are opening very personal houses throughout France and Monaco,” he said. “Often led by couples, with complementary roles between savory and pastry, or between the kitchen and the dining room, these life projects reflect the entrepreneurial energy and strong local roots that characterize gastronomy today. From tables rooted in the terroirs to more contemporary and international cuisines, this diversity confirms that restaurants remain more than ever essential places of openness, meeting and sharing.” 

For the press release about this year's guide and winners, click here. 

The Michelin Guide France & Monaco has traditionally been published only in French. But good news for those of you qui ne parlent pas français: all of the recommendations are on the Michelin Guide website and on their app, fully browse-able in English. Poking around on the Michelin site just now, I see that in addition to starred restaurants and Bib Gourmands, they also list restaurants known simply for ''good cooking,'' which I think is a great feature. You can also book restaurants directly through the site, via The Fork. And if you register, you can keep track of your favorites, your visited restaurants and--wait for it--indulge your inner critic by sharing your opinions with Michelin reviewers.

All of that being said, I still think my list here is a super-handy way to quickly find out where the Michelin stars are...if you're living here in the South of France, traveling here or just curious. So to see all the starred restaurants in PACA and Monaco, read on! 

Michelin Starred Restaurants across Provence, the Côte d'Azur and Monaco for 2026

ALPES DE HAUTE PROVENCE (Dept. 04) 

Château Arnoux - La Bonne Étape *

Mane - Le Feuillée - Le Couvent des Minimes *

Manosque  - Restaurant Pierre Grein *

Moustiers Sainte Marie - La Bastide de Moustiers *

LES HAUTES ALPES (05)

No stars this year 

ALPES MARITIMES (06)

Antibes -  Louroc – Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc *

Antibes (Cap d'Antibes) - Les Pêcheurs *

Beaulieu- sur-Mer - Le Restaurant des Rois – La Réserve de Beaulieu *

Biot - Les Terraillers *

Cannes -  La Palme d’Or  *

Le Cannet (Cannes) - La Villa Archange **

La Colle-sur-Loup - Alain Llorca *

Èze - La Chèvre d’Or *

Èze - Château Eza *

Èze Bord de Mer - La Table du Cap Estel *  NEW 2026

Juan-les-Pins - La Passagère -  Hotel Belles Rives *

Mandelieu-la-Napoule - Bessem * 

Menton - Mirazur ***

Nice - Les Agitateurs *

Nice - L'Aromate *

Nice - Le Chantecler *

Nice - Épicentre * NEW 2026

Nice - Flaveur ** 

Nice - Jan *

Nice  - Onice *

Nice -  Racines - Bruno Cirino *

Roubiou - Auberge Quintessence *

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - Le Cap at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat *

Saint-Paul-de-Vence - La Table de Pierre * NEW 2026

Théoule-sur-Mer  - Mareluna *

Théoule-sur-Mer - L'Or Bleu  *

Valdeblore - Auberge de la Roche * NEW 2026

Villeneuve-Loubet - La Flibuste *

BOUCHES DU RHONE (13) 

Aix-en-Provence - Le Art at Château de la Gaude *

Aix-en-Provence  - Étude * 

Aix-en-Provence - La Table de Pierre Reboul  * 

Aix-en-Provence/Le-Puy-Sainte-Reparade - La Table de l'Orangerie, Château de Fonscolombe  *

Arles - La Chassagnette  *

Barbentane – Ineffable *

Les Baux-de-Provence - L'Oustau de Baumanière ***  

Les Baux-de-Provence - L'Aupiho at Domaine de  Manville * 

Cabriès  - La Bastide Bourrelly - Mathias Dandine *

Carry-le-Rouet - L’Oursin * NEW 2026

Cassis - La Villa Madie ***

La Ciotat - Couleurs de Shimatani *

La Ciotat (Le Liouquet) - La Table de Nans *

Eygalières - Maison Hache *

Gemenos - La Magdeleine - Mathias Dandine *

Marseille - AM par Alexandre Mazzia ***

Marseille -  Auffo * NEW 2026

Marseille - Le Petit Nice ***

Marseille - Une Table au Sud *

Saint-Cannat - Le Mas Bottero *

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - L'Auberge de Saint Rémy -Fanny Rey & Jonathan Wahid **

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - Restaurant de Tourrel *

Salon-de-Provence - Villa Salone *

Ventabren – Dan B.

 

LE VAR (83)

Les Arcs sur Agens - Le Relais des Moines *

Bandol - Les Oliviers* NEW 2026

Le Castellet - La Table du Castellet *** 

La Croix Valmer - La Palmeraie at the Château de Valmer * 

Flassans-sur-Issole – Chez Jeannette *

Flayosc - Le Jardin de Berne at the Hôtel Château de Berne *

Le Lavandou - L’Oursin, Hotel les Roches* NEW 2026

Lorgues - Bruno*

Ramatuelle - La Voile at the Hôtel La Réserve Ramatuelle **

Saint-Tropez  - Arnaud Donckele& Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton *

Saint-Tropez - Colette *

Saint-Tropez - La Terrasse at Cheval Blanc * 

Saint-Tropez  - La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc ***

Toulon - Shanael * NEW 2026

Tourettes -  Faventia *

VAUCLUSE (84)  

Ansouis -  Garrigue * NEW 2026

Avignon - Pollen *

Bonnieux - La Bastide *

Bonnieux  - JU- Maison de Cuisine *

Bonnieux  -  La Table des Amis  **

Cadenet - Le Goût du Bonheur, La Fenière  *

Cucuron - La Petite Maison de Cucuron *

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Le Vivier *

 

MONACO (98)

L’Abysse Monte Carlo **

Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac  ** 

Blue Bay Marcel Ravin **

Elsa Marcel Ravin *

Le Grill at Hotel de Paris *

Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris ***

Pavyllon, un restaurant de Yannick Alleno, Monte Carlo *

Robuchon Monaco * NEW 2026

La Table d’Antonio Salvatore au Rampoldi *

 

 

You're Invited: Heavenly Silk

On a cold January night 84 years ago, Jean Moulin landed in a field on the outskirts of the village of Eygalieres…carried to safety by a parachute made of silk. And now, in homage to this hero of the French resistance—and the silk production industry that thrived in the villages of Southern France until dying out shortly after WWII—Luberon-based artist Joanna Staniszkis will show her monumental silk art this spring. 

The exhibition, called Soie Tombée du Ciel (Silk Fallen from the Sky), will take place in a 12th-century former church at the top of village of Eygalieres.

In the magnificent setting of the Ancient Eglise Saint Laurent, Joanna 's large scale installations show off the beauty of this noble fabric, which she calls a ''wonderous miracle of nature.’’

The show runs from April 15 to May 12. The artist will be present on April 17 to welcome the group La Table des Amis (more on that below), at the official vernissage on April 18 (starting at 6 pm) and at other times as well.

Joanna is a Polish/Canadian textile artist who has lived in the Luberon for 20 years, in an ancient stone quarry. She studied at the Warsaw Fine Arts Academy and graduated from the School of the Chicago Art Institute in Chicago. Today she is Professor Emerita of the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) where she taught design and textile design for more than three decades. Joanna has exhibited her work extensively, in group and solo exhibitions worldwide.

In what she calls her ''atelier practice,’’ she created large-scale architectural commissions for public buildings, embassies and banks. Since coming to Provence, however, she’s been more focused on textile traditions and the history of cloth in the region. Her solo exhibits on that theme have been shown in Bonnieux, Menerbes, Avignon and Salzburg, Austria.

When her schedule allows, Joanna is willing to welcome visitors into her home and studio in the tiny village of Taillades, for what she calls ''textile adventures.’’

''I have a very interesting home and I’m usually working on interesting projects!’’ she tells me. ‘’These days I’m making and selling one-of-a-kind wearable art. I love to explain the process: the printing, the dyeing, etc. Also, I raise silk worms and love to talk about that as well.’’ Sometimes it’s even possible to combine a visit with a short indigo-dying session in the garden. ''People love to bring home something they’ve made themselves,’’ she says. Visits are by appointment only and Joanna’s email is below.

The show in Eygalieres opens with a vernissage on April 18 at 6 pm and all are welcome. It will remain on view until May 12, open every day except Monday, from 11 am to 6 pm.

On Friday April 17 from 11 am to 12 noon, the food, wine and travel club known as La Table des Amis is organizing a visit to the exhibit followed by a no-host lunch in the village. This could also be a great day to enjoy the wonderful weekly Eygalieres market, which happens on Friday mornings. Joanna is a member of the group and will be on hand, to greet everyone and take them around the show. ''And I won’t be alone,’’ she tells me, ''I’ll definitely have my silk worms with me!’’ For info and to reserve (5€) for the Table des Amis outing on April 17, click here.

And for more info on World War II hero Jean Moulin, there’s a small but excellent museum in the village of St. Andiol, not far from Eygalieres. It’s located in a the former village school, where he was a student. There you’ll find 200 rare photos, archives, period objects and videos, including a reconstruction (with sound and visual effects) of the fuselage of the plane from which he parachuted on January 2, 1942. Today Moulin’s ashes are in the Pantheon in Paris, the final resting place of France’s greatest heroes, and his name is found widely across the country; it’s said that only Charles de Gaulle and Louis Pasteur have more French streets named after them. For info on the museum, click here or here.

To reach Joanna directly: jstanisz@mail.ubc.ca, joanna-staniszkis-in-provence.com.

Photos: (1) Poster for the show. (2) L'Ancienne Eglise Saint-Laurent in Eygalieres was built on the northern rampart of the magical old village (Vieux Village) in the early 12th century, then remodeled in the 18th and 19th. Purely Romanesque in style, it was used as a place of worship from 1155 to 1905 and became a Historical Monument in 1983. Today the interior is accessible only when artistic or cultural events are being held...and during the Journées du Patrimoine each September. If you don't know Eygalieres, be aware that the old (Ancienne) Saint-Laurent church is at the very top of the hill while the new (Nouvelle) one is in town. (3) Joanna working on the exhibition in her atelier in Taillades. (4) Two works for the show: a silk parachute and "The Cloudscape.'' (5) More works for the show. (6) Joanna makes unique linen clothing, which can be purchased in her studio. (7) The Musée de Jean Moulin in St. Andiol.