Uncategorized | margot paris

Sarments de Vignes – vine prunings

Since immersing myself in the Languedoc region of France in 2013, I have experienced the seasonal rhythm of the wine making process. The transformation of the vines in this landscape, from winter gaunt to summer exuberance, is as dramatic as the magical process of turning grapes into wine.

After helping with the harvest in autumn, the pruning process in the new year, and the recent bottling of the 2015 vintage, I have come to know the humble ‘sarments de vigne‘. This is a new art material for me – akin to a series of pencil strokes. I am exploring ways to join and manipulate them into sculptural forms.

Gathering sarments is the first step

These slender branches are dedicated ‘soldiers’ defending this empire of wine. Traditionally discarded after their service, my work will elevate them beyond the reach of the bonfire or the mulching machine.

Each variety of vine has its own distinct character and structural properties. Carignan is generally cooperative, Grenache intransigent, while Syrah is naturally sinuous, and seems to be most compliant under the artist’s grip.

I started my artist’s residency on April 20th at La Grange de Bouys, Roujan. My hosts, and vignerons, Florence and Stéphane Monmousseau, have given me free reign to explore their grenier, machine sheds, vineyards, and beautiful stone mazet, all located on their bio-dynamic wine estate near Roujan, Herault. I am using the materials and tools of the vineyard to create a number of site-specific sculpture installations.

For the moment, I am head down working. The mid-May vernissage (by invitation) will debut my “Sarments de Vie” project. Will share the results soon.

Vernissage planning

Domain Viticole, Roujan

Each one a pencil stroke

Portable tools in the vineyard

A day pruning – a full car

It is all about the wine.

Filters from bottling day

Prototyping forms

New favorite hammer

Barrel blocks repurposed

Soaking helps form curves

Soon to be joined

Sarments insignia

Treasures in the grenier (attic)

The making of art is often a solitary process. Unless you accept an invitation to an artists’ symposium, which is an inspiring mash-up of summer camp (silly fun), running a marathon (endurance) and attending a harrowing design critique at art school (humbling, but necessary for onward progress). Oh…and add excellent Italian food and wine for good measure!

Fratello Luna e Fratello L’Asino, diptych

Just returned from 8 days in the Lombardy region of Italy, attending “L’Asino e la Luna” contemporary art symposium, curated by Marisa Cortese of S.I.V.I.E.R.A, and generously hosted by the Fondazione Emilia Bosis, and its president, Pier Giacomo Luccini.

18 international artists, and a team of support staff spent a week together in a shared atelier producing art, ‘contaminating’ each other with our ideas and process, and exploring the region in horse drawn carriages…..

I fully immersed myself in the artistic experience, filling up my sketchbook with impressions of the week. Here are a few examples….

A little coffee for the sky tone

Sketchbook 1

Sketchbook 2

Sketchbook 4

Sketchbook 3

Massimo portrait

Placemat sketches

The symposium theme is inspired by the “L’Asino e la Luna” song by Agostino Celti, whose lyrics invoke a donkey looking up at the moon, reflecting on their relative position in the universe.

Agostino Celti performing in the painted music room of the Palazzo Barbo

It is almost impossible to describe the charm, and audacity of the location: Cascina Germaglio in Verdello, Bergamo. It is many things: a residential psychiatric facility for patients diverted from the criminal justice system; a working horse stables and farm (with a Noah’s ark-like collection of animals); and a community space for the town of Verdello.

Most intriguing of all – it contains the Teatro Stalla – a huge barn-like performance space with a sand-covered floor, theatre lighting & sound systems, and a grand piano. Professional actors and resident patients perform together with animals, in spectacles which are collectively conceived. It is not a circus, it is art, it is therapy, and it is astonishing. A sample video of the upcoming production, “Nel Signo de Caino” can be found here.

Much gratitude my talented fellow artists, sponsors, staff and residents of the Cascina Germaglio, and everyone else who had a hand in making this Bergamo symposium an unforgettable experience.