A-Part Art Festival Runs Through July 31

The A-Part International Festival of Contemporary Art continues in the Alpilles region of Provence through July 31st. Fifty artists are exhibiting in 30 public and private spaces throughout eight villages. This year, the third annual, celebrates nine different themes and includes painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, multi-media installations, sound and light shows, digital art and street art. There will also be a series of ''animated discussions'' and a picnic at the Domaine Dalmaran on July 27 (by reservation) from 12:30 to 6:30 pm.

Each major shows kicks off with a vernissage (opening reception) that's free and open to the public. In most cases, the artists will be present. A schedule of some (but not all) of the vernissages is here. But unless you speak ''art French,'' you might have more than a bit of trouble understanding the show descriptions. Better to just check the venues and then go enjoy the vibrant diversity of work and festive atmosphere.

Upcoming vernissages include:   

*Carrieres des Lumieres, Les Baux (Thursday July 19, 7:30 to 11:30 pm, with projections on July 20 and 21 from 7:30 to 11:30 pm).

*Hôtel de l’Image, 36, boulevard Victor Hugo, St. Remy (Saturday, July 21, 6:30 to 10:30 pm). This is a show of large and small vehicles, created or embellished by various artists.

*'Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié,  2, rue Durand-Maillane, St. Remy (Monday, July 23, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm).

*Clôture de la Résidence d’Artistes, Atelier Serra, Les Baux (July 29, 6:30 to 9 pm).

The A-Part Festival office is located at Space Marrel, 3, rue Édouard Marrel in St. Remy. It's open from 10 am to 7 pm every day. The phone is 06 72 44 71 13. The festival also has a ''point info'' in the courtyard of the office of the architect Hugues Bosc at 38, Boulevard Victor Hugo in St. Remy. 

Full festival info can be found here. 

Images from top: The ''point info'' in the courtyard at 38, Boulevard Victor Hugo in St. Remy. This year's A-Part poster.The artist Zokatos used to paint on the walls of Paris; now he creates colorful abstract canvases such as the one above.  Divinity by Christian Astuguevieille. Flower photo by Anne Olofsson. A sculpture made of bread by Mexican artist Edgar Canul. Pas Ce-Soir (Not Tonight) by Etienne Bossut. A recent vernissage at the Chateau des Alpilles in St. Remy. The A-Part map (click to enlarge).