Long light is stretched lean and tight by the Solstice but has been ever so in this corner of Provence. Other seasons, other times have left their mark beyond this eternal summer. For two thousand years, the Roquette has been inhabited, there is still a rue de la Monnaie from when the mint of the Roman Empire was transferred to Arles in 313 AD. The fishermen that worked the port of the Rhone, creating power as they pulled and docked, have always lived right in this neighborhood. Or did until the trains came and the industrial age with it, leaving their livelihood to sink slowly down. But the buildings remain. Not all have been made their pretty. And yet the details present a palette, one that is both beautiful and true.
So this renaissance is taking flight but it will fade and be replaced by future hopefuls, leaving trails and lounging on another June 21.
I thought that this would be the round-up of this week in the Roquette but Remi suggested another post about the life on the quay. We shall see but in the meantime…
…for those of you in France or participating countries, Bon Fête de la Musique!
…and for everyone else, make some music of your own this fine weekend…
I love these images – lots of long light and interesting doorways and bits of green…ahhhh! I missed the 2nd in the series so will check it out, but have loved seeing the Roquette! As for music-making of our own, we did some and it created a mishap! David and I were playing, and he was using his computer on a low table to take notes. Guess who two started playing, and guess who's tail knocked over his soda onto his computer??? Yup! Disaster – we panicked and googled – it seems to have survived except for a few things not working. But more music making this weekend!! Wish you were here to sing "Summertime"! : )
p.s. to David Terry's comment that you have at least 2 good books already in you I say, "here here"!!!!
One of the things I appreciate about Heather's photography is the near absence of postcard cliches….you know—the snazzy waiter artfully balancing a tray of wine glasses as he waltzes through a crowded cafe, the ancient, but ALWAYS SMILING, vaguely peasant-ish woman seated behind her boxes of colorful produce in the market, two children playing in front of a sunlit fountain, a pair of presumed lovers kissing in front of just about anything vaguely French, etcetera….the sort of tourist-y postcard images that could come from ANYwhere in France (and do, for that matter).
Instead?,,,Heather really does have a talent for exploring and showing the hidden corners, and the places/things most folks would simply pass by without noticing.
Hers is the sort of eye that's obviously (to me, at least) been trained by sitting and really LOOKING, rather than rushing around to get somewhere else, simply because the guidebook tells you where you ought to be and what you ought to be viewing.
As I recently wrote to "La Contessa", the woman (Heather)obviously (once again, at least to me) has at least two good books already in her.
And,no,I'm not paid to write these things…I just happen to really admire this markedly sincere blog.
—-david terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
By the way, may we add a little Frankenthaller as well? 🙂
Gorgeous.
I love that Helen sees Rothko in these images…
Beautiful photos yet again! An intriguing place. Yes, we will make it to Arles, probably in the autumn, but before the cold! With Rémy in tow, no doubt! And he thanks you for the scratchies
Thank you for such a wonderful introduction to La Roquette. Hope to see more of it. Places like that intrigue me no end.
So beautiful. The patina of years.
It's Midsummer Eve here and our world is at a standstill because everyone is celebrating the peak of summertime. Thank you for the beautiful post.
I always wish we had a similar thing to fete de la musique here.
Happy summer solstice Heather! x
Hello Heather
Some of your images bring to mind the great Rothko.
You have captured the soul and history so beautifully.
The feast of St. Jean Baptiste is celebrated in Quebec.
Wishing you "easy living" as summer dawns
Helenxx