Vulcania: A Blend of Learning and Thrills

As I wandered into the heart of Auvergne, I found myself intrigued by Vulcania, a place promising both adventure and learning amidst the region's stunning scenery.

My recent visit to this captivating cultural spot was truly eye-opening, offering a mix of experiences that combined education with excitement in a way that felt accessible and enjoyable.

Walking into the new planetarium, I felt a sense of anticipation. As the lights dimmed and the show began, I was taken on a journey through space.

The sights of stars and galaxies left me feeling amazed and small in the vastness of the universe. It was a beautiful experience that made me appreciate the wonders of space in a new way.

Moving on to the simulations of natural disasters, I was impressed by how realistic they felt. From the rumbling volcano to the shaking ground of an earthquake, each simulation brought home the power of nature in a way that was both thrilling and educational. It was like being in the middle of an adventure while also learning something new.

Exploring the educational exhibits, I found them to be informative and engaging. From interactive displays explaining how the Earth's surface moves to hands-on activities showing volcanic eruptions, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

I felt like I was learning without even realizing it, which made the experience more enjoyable.

As I walked the trails around Vulcania, taking in the stunning views of the surrounding landscape, I felt a connection to the natural world.

Seeing the volcanic peaks and hot springs up close made me appreciate the beauty and power of the Earth in a whole new light. It was a reminder of how incredible our planet truly is.

In conclusion, my visit to Vulcania was an unforgettable adventure that left me with a newfound appreciation for the world around me.

From the wonders of space to the power of nature, each aspect of the park offered a unique learning experience that was both accessible and enjoyable. As I left Vulcania behind, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to explore and learn in such a beautiful and exciting environment.

 

The famous Théâtre du peuple is located in the little town of Bussang in the Vosges. It was created in 1895 by Maurice Pauttecher. There are large doors at the back of the stage which can be slid back to allow the audience to see the mountains.

In 2023, during the summer holidays, I was lucky enough to see a famous play in this beautiful theatre: Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, adapted and staged by the Compagnie Yanua (Katja Husinger and Rodolphe Dana). What I really liked was the acting and the story. This play is very interesting with its great monologues and plot twists. I also really liked the all-wood theatre construction, and the horses coming in through the back of the stage.

Although the piece, which dates back to 1897, is three hours long, the time passes by quite quickly thanks to the modern staging.

Jule Tilly

The little town of Brioude, known for its rich history and cultural heritage,  hosted a captivating exhibition in 2018 dedicated to Marc Chagall, one of the foremost figures of modern art. Held at the local art museum, the exhibition, entitled "Chagall: Visions of Love and Life," brought together a diverse array of Chagall’s works, including paintings, drawings, and lithographs.

The collection showcased Chagall's vibrant use of colour and imagery, capturing the essence of his unique artistic vision. The curators did an excellent job presenting his works in a way that was both educational and visually stunning. It was truly an inspiring visit that deepened my appreciation for Chagall's art.

Overall, the Marc Chagall exhibition in Brioude was a beautifully curated and enlightening experience that not only celebrated his artistic achievements but also painted a portrait of his enduring impact on the world of art.

This exhibition is essential for admirers of Chagall and it's the perfect exhibition for those who want to discover his art.

Octave Marceau

 

In the town of Brioude, you can visit the museum of Le Doyenné, near the Saint-Julien basilica, on Lafayette square. The museum offers different exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

The Doyenné is truly a cultural jewel that transcends temporal boundaries. Over my three visits in three years, I have been captivated by how the museum skilfully connects contemporary art with history, providing an enriching experience for all visitors, from youth to seniors.

The exhibitions I had the chance to see, "From Rooster to Donkey" on Marc Chagall in 2018, "Paths to Poetry" on Joan Miró in 2019, “Ultimate Works: Tribute to Jacqueline" on Picasso in 2022 , were immersive journeys into the creative minds of these artists. Thanks to the efforts of curator Jean-Louis Prat, each exhibition has managed to capture the essence and evolution of the artist's work, while offering us a fascinating insight into their lives and world-views.

What makes the Doyenné even more special is its commitment to cultural diversity and inclusiveness. By providing equitable access to culture to all audiences, including youth through educational programmes, the museum plays a crucial role in enriching our perspectives and understanding of the world around us. By exploring the works on display, visitors are encouraged to reflect, feel and question, which not only contributes to their personal development, but also to a more open and tolerant society.

In short, the Doyenné in Brioude in the Haute-Loire department of France is much more than a museum of contemporary art; it is a cultural place that inspires, educates and brings people together, thus making culture and art powerful tools of connection and social transformation.

The role of the museum's staff and guides is essential, their passion for art enriching each visit, creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can explore and learn with confidence.

The 2022 exhibition "Picasso the ultimate work: Homage to Jacqueline" offers a captivating dive into the last creative phase of Pablo Picasso, highlighting Jacqueline Roque's transcendent influence on his art. Through iconic pieces such as "Jacqueline with bent legs"(1955) and "Jacqueline with flowers" (1954), the face and body of his muse are explored with incomparable emotional depth and technical mastery.

The careful selection of the works by the curator of the exhibition Jean-Louis Prat, reveals the richness and diversity of Jacqueline's portrayal. Each piece testifies to the artist's devouring passion for his subject, capturing her changing essence with poignant expressiveness and evocative power.

"Woman sitting in a yellow and green hat" (1962) perfectly embodies this deep connection between the artist and his muse, revealing a masterful fusion of shapes and colours that testifies to the intensity of their bond. Through these works, Picasso transcends the boundaries of traditional representation to create a unique visual universe, where Jacqueline's beauty blends harmoniously with her own artistic vision.

As you go through this exhibition, you are overpowered by the sincerity and emotional power that emanate from each painting, testifying to the profound impact that Jacqueline had on Picasso's life and work. It is a moving tribute to an exceptional artistic and human relationship that resonates beyond the boundaries of time and space, eloquently affirming Picasso’s belief that “painting is stronger than me, it makes me do what it wants.”

Armand Marceau

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Review of the April 2017 art exhibition at ISM by the secondes section euro pupils

Article by Claire-Élise, Jacinthe, Joséphine & Camille:

Without title, Marian BREEDVELD

This oil on canvas is really beautiful. It makes me think of different things. There are different gradients of yellow, with sometimes greenish or orange tints, the thick paint showing the broad brush strokes used, and the thick layers of paint giving a three-dimensional aspect to the canvas. The line in the middle makes me think of the horizon line of a landscape, with maybe a sunset. It also makes me think of the surface of Jupiter, with its great red spot.

 Without title, Loredana SPERINI

Without title, Loredana SPERINI

I find the two works of art by SPERINI very interesting. I enjoy the way the wax has been layered, creating some stunning colour gradients. They look like stained glass, with the light coming through, even though there is cement behind the wax.

Without title, Marc DEVADE

This painting is in two parts. It has an 'H' shape cut in two horizontally. The top one has purple edges and is between blue and black in the middle. It's the opposite on the lower part. I think it could represent hell and heaven ; hell is at the bottom, and heaven at the top. It makes a contrast with the colors which symbolise the opposition between these two worlds: good and evil. So, I really like this painting because it's a good interpretation of what happens after death: heaven or hell?

Balls and Tunnels, Valérie FAVRE

''Balls and Tunnels'' is like a "bomb" of every color. It is as if the picture was attacked by an army of colors. I think that they are coming together to colour this black picture and make people happy to see millions of united colors.

Eidétique paressante, Al MARTIN

This work's title describes it well: an eidetique image is the "revival" of a perception after a latent period. Al MARTIN took 365 days to finish this work. The artist has hollowed out the layers of paint in places; this symbolises perhaps time passing and the fastidious artistic process.

Article by Emma, Manon, Tristan, Rémi & Sylvain:

The painting by Marion BREEDWELD contrasts with the one by Marc DEVADE. In yellows, oranges and reds, it reminds us of a sunset or the colours of the leaves in autumn. It is warm and comforting. The artist has painted his work of art on the surface and on the sides of the canvas. The horizontal lines look like wooden planks illuminated by the sun.

The two works of art by Loredana SPERINI are made of cement and wax. The coloured wax rectangles and triangles capture the light like stained glass.

The ink painting by Marc DEVADE, in different shades of blue, is pretty big, and looks like a door that has the bottom and the top inverted. It looks like a door into darkness. The atmosphere is dark and sinister and this feeling is accentuated by the effect produced by the ink.

The work by Valérie FAVRE is like a garden, with lots of flowers of different colours. This painting inspires us, make us feel happy and free, and the contrast between the colours can remind us of the four seasons of the year. The colours blend into each other.

The painting by the French artist Al MARTIN is very special; it was made over an entire year. He has superimposed 365 layers of paint, one on each day of the year. Then he hollowed out shapes into the layers and produced circles of colours that look like shells and butterflies. We have not really understood the meaning of this painting or the aim of the artist, but a work of art doesn't always need to be understood…

Article by Pauline, Lucie, Camille & Auriane:

“Without title,” from 1997, by Marion BREEDVELD, is a little painting made of several thick layers of paint. We see the marks left by the brushstrokes from left to right. The artist wanted to show us the mix of colours.

The two paintings both named “Without title,” from 2014, by Loredona SPERINI, are made of concrete and wax. The base is a rectangle of concrete and above this, there are various geometric shapes made of thick coloured wax that change shade according to the light.

“Without title,” from 1976, by Marc DEVADE, is very special because the painter has used ink to paint all over the canvas and so it is very dark. We didn’t understand the message of this work.

“Balls and Tunnels,” from 1996, by Valérie FAVRE, is rather big. It shows a kind of galaxy.

“Eidétique paressante,” from 2010, by Al MARTIN, is a little work with 365 shades of paint. The artist added a new layer of paint each day and, at the end of the year, he dug shapes into it to show the different layers.

The theme of this exhibition is colour and the passing of time. 


Article by Elvire:

The six works of art that make up the tiny exhibition entitled “Le geste de la couleur” seem to echo each other…

The first one on the left as you walk in to the gallery is composed of two canvases. In the top canvas, there is a dark rectangle; its reflection is in the lower canvas. It is an ink painting. It is like a very dark aurora borealis, a sort of light in darkness. In this painting there is an echo between the top and the bottom.

Then, on the next wall, we have two small very thick rectangles made of a mix of unusual materials: various-coloured wax and light grey cement.

On the opposite wall, we have a painting by AI MARTIN. There are plenty of colours. It’s a sort of landscape. It seems to be a lake, with hills, like a map. It is meticulously done. This work was done in one year; it required a lot of patience. Every day the painter added a layer and in the end he scraped parts of the layers off. It is an echo to the two little squares opposite.

Beside MARTIN’s work, there is a bright yellow painting also made of several layers of paint. These are very thick, giving “depth” to the work. The layers are applied horizontally. There seems to be an echo with the first works because there is a contrast between the colours.

The last painting is composed of many spots of cold and warm colours. It is messy, there is no apparent order in contrast to the other works; it is like galaxies being absorbed into a black hole.

Article by Clothilde, Perrine, Auguste & Maxime:

The exhibition “Le geste de la couleur” has just six works of art. There is nonetheless an echo between all these works.

The first one is composed of two parts, at the top, we have a green rectangle, and below it is the opposite like a reflexion. It is like a dark aurora borealis, like a light in darkness.

The second is a pair of very thick quite small rectangles made of cement and variously coloured wax.

Then, we have a sort of colourful landscape, a kind of map with lakes and hills. This work was done over one year; it required a lot of patience. The painter, Al Martin, added a layer of paint every day and at the end he scraped some layers off to create the 3D effect.

The next painting was done by a woman with a lot of creativity. It is also very meticulous and composed of several thick layers of mostly yellow paint, spread horizontally. It looks like a detail of a Van Gogh painting seen through a microscope.

The last work was made by a woman too. There are many spots and splashes of various colours, both cold and warm. There is no apparent order and it is wonderfully and mysteriously messy.

The enigmatic works in this exhibition represent movement (as captured by the artists’ gestures, i.e. the brush strokes captured in the paint) and so perhaps the passing of time. All the works are meticulously done and the colours reflect the light when they are bright, or absorb it when they are opaque (light and dark, day and night; again the passing of time…).


Article by Evie, Florane, Alice, Jules & Arthur:

The art exhibition of six works from the FRAC collection we visited in Sainte-Marie was called “Le geste de la couleur” (“The Gesture of Colour”).

On the right as we walked in to the exhibition space there were two abstract pieces by Loredana Sperini: quite small, very thick rectangles made of coloured wax shapes imbedded in light grey cement. The surface was smooth. The colours changed according to the intensity of the light.

The top half of the large dark ink diptych echoed its lower part. By its size and sombre mood, it contrasted with the other works.

The colourful “landscape” by Al Martin was meticulously done. It took 365 days to make; every day he added a layer of paint.

There was an echo of Martin’s piece in the yellow Van Gogh-like work next it, in the intense use of colour and multiple layers of paint.

The last painting was alive and joyful with many colours, both cold and warm. It reminded us of a pond swarming with plants and splodgy creatures (or of an unknown galaxy)…

Our friends from Bury being given a guided tour of Riom's statues by some of the pupils in Seconde euro!