Hi Everyone,
My Personal Favorite is on pause until June, when I return from my term as Resident Fellow at VCCA’s Moulin à Nef residency in Auvillar, France.
In place of the blog, I’m keeping a diary (of sorts) about my 77-day stay in France. While I’m here, I thought it would be fun to interview the other artists in residence.
First up, Charlotte Rodenberg, who was evacuated from Qatar in March, just prior to her arrival at Moulin à Nef.
Rodenberg holds an MFA from the Tyler School of Art in Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture. Her recent studio practice includes experimental screenprinting and street art. In addition to being an artist and educator, she is a twice-published author and illustrator of Children's Books. She is the recipient of a Jentel Foundation Artist Fellowship and The Anderson Gallery Space Grant. She has received multiple VCUarts Research Grants supporting her exhibitions and travel. Her work has been exhibited at Page Bond Gallery, Iridian Gallery, ADA Gallery, Sediment Gallery, Ruf in Gallery and 1708 Gallery. Rodenberg's work is in the permanent collection of the Try Me Gallery and the University of Southern Indiana. Before arriving in Doha, Rodenberg taught Drawing at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also taught workshops at the Oregon School of Art and the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle.
You can read more about Rodenberg’s latest project here, or watch the video we recorded yesterday in Auvillar below.
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In other news…
We celebrated Poisson d’Avril instead of April Fool’s Day here in Auvillar. Note the toy fish dangling above the table:
There’s a long story behind Poisson d’Avril, the French equivalent of April Fool’s Day, which you can find here, but I particularly love this tidbit:
In the Middle Ages, in lieu of giving a traditional gift of fish, a prankster might attach a small fish to another person's back with a hook. The fish was not fresh, and neither were the people, for that matter; so, the stench sometimes went unnoticed for a disturbingly long time.
Much like we yell, “April Fool’s!” after we run a number on someone, the Gagster of Old would shout: “It’s a poisson d’Avril!” or “It’s an April fish!”
The trees here resemble arthritic hands, and when I wondered why, of course, the Welkin had the answer:
What you’re seeing is a traditional pruning method called pollarding—and it’s very common in France (and much of Europe). Pollarding keeps trees from growing too tall or wide, which is especially useful along roads, rivers, and in villages where space is limited. Cutting the branches back to the same points each year produces lots of new shoots. It may look harsh, but the tree is actually responding with vigorous growth. In summer, the trees leaf out and provide shade. In winter, when they’re cut back or leafless, they let in more sunlight.
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The weather is getting better, and more pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago are passing through town:
On Easter Sunday, I drove to Bordeaux to pick up my son, Jack, who is visiting for a week. On the way, I popped into the village of Saint-Émilion, thinking it would be deserted because of the holiday, but it was hopping! The tasting rooms were packed, the restaurants lively, and the sun was shining.
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A small complaint:
I have had trouble finding gluten-free food options in restaurants in France. Nobody has gluten-free pizza—a given in the States. I don’t have many nice things to say about America right now, but one thing I do appreciate is being able to eat. At the Intermarché in Valence d’Agen, there are maybe four gluten-free items for sale.
Also, people never shut up about the bread.
They’re either just off to the boulangerie or just leaving it. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me, but it’s like being trapped in an alternate reality where everyone else’s survival depends on the one thing that will kill you.
In Saint Emilion on Sunday, the waitress pointed to everything on the menu and shook her head:
Non, Non, Non. Not for you.
Finally, she located one “sans gluten” dish—an entrée that held absolutely no appeal but was better than starvation: Duck leg, salad, and fries.
Note in the picture that despite the extensive discussion of celiac disease, she brought me some bread. Perhaps, she had decided (for me) that a life without bread was not worth living.
I did indulge in some ice cream after that abysmal lunch, so no worries…when one door closes, another opens :)
Cheers,
Kelly
The project you filmed is fascinating, and so well conceived. As one who has worked with a refugee family, I was heartened to know the Palestinian women were involved. (Palestinian embroidery is quite beautiful, btw.) It would be great to see the full result.