Gare-Expo | 2014 Exhibitions

Trio

Private viewing Satuday 14th June, 18h-20h (members and invited guests only)

Exhibition Sunday 15th June to Sunday 6th July, 15h-18h

Closed on Mondays

In June 2014 there will be an exhibition of a variety of works by three French artists, Marie-Claire Astre (watercolour,textile), Claude Font (pastel) and Loul Combres (ceramic sculpture). To discuss the works exposed in Centre Ulysse, Loul Combre will be present on 15 June, from 3.30-5.30pm and Marie-Claire and Claude Font, on 22 June, from 3.30-5.30pm.

Click on the names below to find out more.

Marie-Claire ASTRE - Aquarelles, textiles

Born in Hérault. Secondary education near Paris. Various forms of art training at E.S.A.A. Duperré (Paris). Completed her studies with a History degree. Taught in Paris (ESAA Duperré) and outside (Toulouse) while carrying on with her creative activities: took part in group exhibitions; enjoyed drawing, painting, watercolour, book illustration; created theatre costumes; worked on textile and embroidery.

"I have been living in the south of Aveyron, to be close to nature. While I kept appreciating and practising different forms of visual arts I have preferred working with watercolours whether inside the workshop or outside. I have the impression that watercolours let me move directly from my perception of things to their graphic expression…without being much aware of this process: I love this feeling of immediacy which gives me the illusion of spontaneity."

Claude FONT - Pastel, techniques sèches

Training in Paris: Ecole Boulle, Boulle, Ecole Supérieure des Arts Appliqués, E.N.S.E.T, Cachan. Taught art and craft in Narbonne, Marseille (Ecole Boulle), then in Toulouse Lycée des Arènes. Several collective or solo exhibitions; worked for stage-sets, visual arts.

"I have often wondered about the relationship between fine art as applied to industry and craftsmanship which I have taught and practised (industrial aesthetics, crafts etc.) and that art which is often called ‘visual,’ sometimes ‘brut’ or ‘buissonnier’… therefore (?) free and in any case ‘non-applied art.’ Sometimes there emerges an opposition which I see as absurd and sterile. I therefore prefer this exciting adventurous search for everything that hides behind appearances, even when theses are absolutely beautiful. For making my mark I use mostly a tool requiring a simple gesture (!): pastels. On the one hand, their lightness and the frailty of the texture echo my hesitations but on the other hand, the fresh intensity of the colours may help me state what I believe."

Loul COMBRES - Sculptures céramiques

After studying at Nîmes college of fine arts, Loul Combres set up his first workshop to make ceramics in Lozère with his wife Aline, a textile artist. In 1964, he opened another workshop near Narbonne. After 10 years spent close to the sea, the family with its 4 children moved back to Lozère in a large house,10km from Mende. Then, another move in 2002 to settle in Prades- le-Lez, on Montpellier doorstep. Loul Combres uses the potter’s wheel to make large pieces in clay which he polishes before firing at 1100 degrees. He has made diverse works – architectural, for walls and floors displays: ie. sculptures for about thirty sites ‘Ceramics and Architecture’ as well as performances of ‘Fire art (en) such as La Bastille et Le Dragon in Amiens et Le Poisson in Nyons (Switzerland).

Look at some of his work
Known as a ‘performer-earth-fire’, he has experimented with many techniques, some includes clay and metal, clay and cement. He acted as artistic director for the group ‘Armande’, the International Film Festival on clay and glass with France Federation of Craft and Phare-sud Centre. He won prizes from la fondation de la vocation in 1964 and the regional métiers d'art in 1986. His works have been bought by museums in France (Sèvres, Art Moderne, Palissy) and abroad (Calgary, USA; Bruxelles, Belgique) He has exhibited many times in France and abroad.

www.fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loul_Combres