La Patrouille de France

Every year the former members of the Patrouille de France (PAF) meet at the Salon de Provence airbase (PAF headquarters).  The day starts off with a church service and military tribute to honour the memory of lost team members, followed by a visit to the PAF squadron where you are surrounded by fantastic photos and memorabilia that depicts the teams history.
While family and friends are enjoying this, the former members are occupied with their AGM and the current pilots are busy with their pre-flight briefing, because this is the day that the team display their 2016 program.

Photos from the Patrouille de France Fan club Facebook page

It was great to spend a wonderful 2 days with friends at Eygalières and to stay in another beautiful region  of France.
Eygalières

Didier Lockwood Concert

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The day after the opening of the Exposition we re-arranged the layout of the church to accommodate the concert coming in on Saturday night.  It was a concert by the famous violinist, Didier Lockwood and organised by “les concerts de poche”.

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The church was “packed to the rafters” with a long waiting list for tickets.
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It was a brilliant performance by Didier and I was totally mesmorised by his talent and ability to entertain the crowd for over 90 minutes using the theme of “improvisation”.  A high energy performance mixing classical, jazz and popular music.  Afterwards I had a chance to share a meal with friends, Didier and his team… A perfect end to the perfect evening…

Photos by Dominique Weyns

 

2016 season

I can’t believe how quickly the time goes by… Here I am back in Mirmande opening up the houses for the 2016 season.  Back in the village for only 10 days and already very active with the Haute Voltige Association.

On Friday  29th April we had the opening cocktails (vernissage), for the exposition we have organised at the Eglise Sainte-Foy which is situated at the top of the village.
sainte foy

The expo will run from 30 April until 29 May and features the paintings of Alain Signorini and sculptures of Alain Signorini and Jean-Claude Millet.
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It was a fantastic evening, with delicious canapés and very good company!
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For information on past and future activities of the association, please visit
Haute Voltige Mirmande

Photos by Dominique Weyns and Jean-Loup Cardey

 

Juliette Deshayes – Oils on canvas

“La Maison de Juliette” was named after its’ former owner, Juliette Deshayes (01.02.1900-27.01.2001), who bought the house in 1934.  She was a watercolour painter and friend of André Lhote (cubist painter) and his wife Simone.  Here are a few examples of her work that I could find on the internet.

This is a painting of the actual kitchen in La Maison de Juliette, during her time.  Very little has changed today.
For more information on La Maison de Juliette click here

deshayes_juliette-cuisine_rustique

Cuisine Rustique Oil painting on canvas 46x55cm

 

 

 

juliette-deshayes-L'église de Le Mesnil-au-Bry

L’église de le Mesnil-au-Bry – Oil Painting on Canvas 54x65cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

juliette-deshayes-pescatori-sul-fiume

Pescatori sul fiume – Oil painting on canvas 61x73cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Les péniches à quai sur la Seine

Les péniches à quai sur la Seine Oil painting on canvas 61×50 cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette Deshayes – Watercolours

“La Maison de Juliette” was owned by and named after Juliette Deshayes who was an artist specialising in watercolours and who also painted oil on canvas.

Juliette was great aunt to several of my friends in the village and aunt to another former Mirmande artist, Guy Marandet.  His daughter Anne is currently showing an exhibition of his works in the “Grand Maison”, and whilst visiting the expo, I discovered a box of delightful postcards containing some of Juliette’s watercolours.  I was absolutely thrilled to find these and happy to see some of the paintings she created in her atelier, which still exists in the house today.
For more information on La Maison de Juliette click here

Paris---les-pêcheurs-au-Pont-Marie-aquarelle-1972

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Paris, les pêcheurs au Pont Marie (Paris, the fishermen at Marie Bridge) – Watercolour 1972

Italie,-Burano,-barques-de-pêcheurs---aquarella-1970

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Italie, Burano, barques de pêcheurs  (Burano, Italy, fishing boats) – Watercolour 1969

Maroc,-la-vieille-ville-de-Fez-aquarelle-1969

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Maroc, la vieille ville de Fez (Morocco, the old city of Fez) – Watercolour 1969

Paris, la fête foraine aquarelle 1964

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Paris, la fête foraine (Paris, the Funfair) – Watercolour 1964

Espagne,-le-château-de-Peniscola-aquarelle-1958

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Espagne, le château de Peniscola (Spain, Peniscola castle) – Watercolour 1958

Mirmande,-les-deux-pins-maritimes-aquarelle-1958

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Mirmande, les deux pins maritimes (the two pines) – Watercolour 1958

Mirmande, André Lhote et Simone devant la ferma aux 90 appartments aquarelle 1957

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Mirmande, André LHOTE et Simone devant la ferme aux 90 appartements (Watercolour 1957)

Ferme-à-Mirmande-aquarelle-1952

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Ferme à Mirmande (farm at Mirmande) – Watercolour 1952

Mirmande,-le-village-et-les-peupliers-de-Caroline-en-bordure-de-Teyssonne-aquarelle-1949

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Mirmande, le village et les peupliers de Caroline en bordure de Teyssonne – Watercolour 1949

Mirmande,-la-ferme-Perrinet-aquarelle-1947

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Mirmande, la ferme Perrinet (the Perrinet farm) – Watercolour 1947

Mirmande,-la-ferme-Moulin-à-la-meule-aquarelle-1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juliette DESHAYES – Mirmande, la ferme Moulin à la meule – Watercolour 1945