Final Presentations

At the end of our stay in Provence, the students were asked to present their final art projects, pieces they have been working on since their arrival in France. This dynamic array of art showcases all their individual talents, from visual art to performance art, to audio art. The diversity and talent shown in these pieces speak for themselves. These are some seriously talented kids, and I am honoured to have been a part of their experience here in France.

-Gretchen Kessler

Gordes and the Monastery

"On Wednesday, we went to Gordes, which was one of the most incredible towns I have ever visited. It is perched on top of a mountain, jutting out perilously into the open air. The town itself is riddled with winding streets and quaint shops tucked in amongst the buildings, and I got the impression that it would take a very long time to truly explore all of it. Our journey took us deeper into the hills, where we came to Abbeye de Senanque, surrounded by fields of lavender. Here we witnessed the monks reciting the vespers, the Gregorian chants that are their evening prayers. With only a handful of voices, they were able to fill the whole space of the church with sound, which echoed around us with haunting beauty. We left the monastery in a reflective silence. Once we returned home, we had a new task in front of us: a giant, blank canvas and a beautiful view to transfer onto it. Using everything from lavender flowers, to sticks, to sponges as paintbrushes, we worked together to bring the painting to life, under the guidance of the lovely Athena. It was a day of adventure, art, and all-around beauty." -Gretchen Kessler, Barat Foundation intern

Beethoven's Ninth in Orange, France

"On Saturday, we went to an incredible Roman Amphitheater to hear Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, performed by the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Chœur de l'Orfeon Donostiarra de San Sebastian. Seeing them perform in such harmony was one marvelous experience, but hearing them live in such an ancient space was unlike anything I could have imagined. Every one of the musicians proved that they had worked very hard to make this an extraordinary performance, and it was very unique how the theater was made in such a way that the performers needed no sound system to make themselves heard. The instruments and voices were all they needed to be heard throughout the entire area." -Nayyirah Sabir, Newark Collegiate Academy

Bastille Day in Avignon

" Today was Bastille day which is equivalent to the forth of July in America. In the morning we watched a documentary about the French revolution and I learned a ton. For instance I learned that Bastille day is named after the storming of Bastille where the revolutionaries were able to get gun powder which marked the official beginning of their revolution. Bastille Day in Avignon was an amazing breath taking experience. It was very crowded and you could tell that every single person there was happy and wanted to be there. When walking down the streets there was so much going on, from actors promoting their plays, to mimes, to break-dancers, to singers and many more. As night fell we headed over to the African craft market where you could find anything you could imagine, literally. There was a huge ferris wheel that some of us went on right as the sun was setting. Everytime we came around to the top the sky would be a different color. It was a great night. At first I was sad to miss the 4th of July back home but Bastille Day definitely made up for it. " -DeAndre Dymski Beaver Country Day School

Photography Lesson and Yoga

"Our brief yet active time with professional photographer, Mr. Vinaixa was a very special and enjoyable time that will not be soon forgotten. His lesson covered perspective in photography. He taught us that taking a photograph is not only to show an image, but also to convey a message. He spoke a great deal about perspective, including angles and how what is in the photograph can control what people take away from it." -Geoffrey Cook, 0f Brewster Academy

Iñaki Vinaixa, official website

Cassis

"Driving to Cassis was without a doubt the most beautiful drive we've had so far. Every corner we turned was accompanied by many "ooh's" and "ahh's" as we saw the landscape drastically change right before our eyes. Once we got to the beach, instead of splitting into groups like we usually do, we decided to all stick together. First, we swam in the water, which was surprisingly warm. This beach was unlike other beaches in that it had smooth pebbles as well as sand and they felt nice against our feet. After our swim, we all walked into town and ate crepes and pizza at a tiny restaurant. We then decided to search for an ice cream shop, so we walked further into the town and stopped at many shops along the way. One of these shops was a quaint little pastry shop with multiple types of cookies and chocolates. We walked a bit longer and turned a corner to find a large ice cream store with so many flavors we never heard of before such as Kinder and Lavender. We then met up with our teachers and again enjoyed the scenic ride back home." -Soreya Scilipote

Isle Sur La Sorgue

"Isle Sur La Sorgue is a fantastic town that prides itself on having the crystal clear Sorgue river running through it. The river's water was amazingly clear and pristine; it was alive with small fish and seaweed that floated through the water. We visited on Sunday, the day of the Antiques market, which took place in the crowded streets of the city. After wondering through the rues and plazas filled with customers looking for unique items, we found ourselves in the church of Isle Sur la Sorgue. On the outside, there was a rounded end that had amazing columns creating interesting shadows. We then proceeded to go into the interior of the grand church. We were astounded by the mix of colors, architecture, and nature light that flooded our eyes as we walked in through the side door. The alter was magnificent with its beautiful detail not just at ground level but also with the amazing gold painted statues in the background. To fully describe what this church is like on the inside would be somewhat impossible as the mixture of rococo and baroque architecture was nothing less than awe inspiring and incredibly ornate." -Geoffrey Cook, 0f Brewster Academy

Van Gogh threw his ear in the Sorgue River, so a ceramic monument of it was created to honor the artist and can still be seen beneath the waters.