Florence & Gertrude
CREATIVES PHOTOGRAPHERS PRINTMAKERS
Florence & Gertrude say bonjour from the south of France
If you've been fortunate enough to visit the south of France you'll instantly understand why any artist would love to have a studio there. Such a beautiful, magical and ancient place with a rhythm of life that's hard to match, drawing artists and artisans for generations from around the world. Florence & Gertrude first came under its spell many years ago and are still inspired by its enchanting atmosphere. Picture - Le Cafe la Nuit', Arles, France, famous as the location of Vincent van Gogh's painting 'cafe terrace at night'.
ARTING AROUND SOUTH OF FRANCE
Florence & Gertrude venture out from their studio, camera in hand, to visit some of their favourite art and history locations in Provence and the surrounding areas. If you like art spaces, Vincent van Gogh, Roman stuff, cats, book shops, gelato, French wine, dry humour and a touch of irreverence then why not join them, as they go Arting around the South of France - ARLES, SAINT REMY DE PROVENCE, GLANUM, LES BAUX DE PROVENCE, NIMES, AVIGNON, UZES, SAINT QUENTIN, PONT DU GARD, ANDUZE, MONTPELLIER, OPPEDE, ROUSSILLON, MENERBES, LACOSTE, AIX EN PROVENCE, CHATEAU LA COSTE.
Arting around south of France, book size 20cm x 26cm, 252 pages with hundreds of glorious colour photographs.
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE
ON LOCATION AT CHATEAU LA COSTE
We take up an invitation to photograph a spectacular Bob Dylan and Richard Rogers double act. It will be featured in a new book.
Situated about 20 minutes north of Aix en Provence, Château La Coste is a truly unique art location. Extending across 500 acres of beautifully unspoilt, natural Provencal countryside, it is home to modern art and architecture, with stunning contemporary buildings housing exhibition space, restaurants, art centre, boutique and book shop as well as a wine and restaurant experience, all juxtaposed to the world class luxury hotel, Villa La Coste. The highlight for us is the art and architecture walk, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings of the wine estate, whilst taking in the collection of more than forty pieces of mainly monumental sculpture, by acclaimed architects and artists such as Frank Gehry, Alexander Calder, Tracey Emin, Louise Bourgeois and Ai Weiwei. ( Tip - maybe do the walk before lunch, certainly before the wine tasting)
So, that sets the scene for us to take up the special invitation to photograph their latest monumental works for inclusion in our books - Bob Dylan's railcar and the Richard Roger's cantilevered drawing gallery.
Paddy McKillen, founder and owner of Château La Coste explains - "The car has been placed in the most magical setting on the old Roman road that meanders through the forest. It is incredibly moving that Bob personally chose the location for his masterpiece.....When I first met him in Los Angeles something obviously clicked – perhaps it was because both of us love the unique Provencal landscape".
Riding a bike along the dusty old Roman road through the estate inspired Richard Rogers to hit on the idea of creating a gallery "as a single dramatic gesture, a giant cantilever that leaps off the ridge seemingly into mid-air with no visible means of support." It was the chance to realise a long-held ambition, paying homage to the design of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater cantilevered terraces that he had studied as a student in 1962.
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE COME FACE TO FACE WITH PIERRE CARDIN'S PINK ELEPHANT
We came across Lacoste by chance some years ago, when taking a short cut from Bonnieux to Menerbes and thought it was just another pretty hilltop hamlet. That was until we saw a sign for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and said, “let’s check that out”. Our luck was certainly in that day, we met a charming SCAD student who gave us a personal tour of their facilities and explained the history behind it., we would have been pleased with just that. Fortunately, we took a stroll up through the village, whereupon we discovered Pierre Cardin’s chateau, Le Chateau du Marquis de Sade, which looked amazing from the outside but was closed to visitors. But, how lucky can you get in one day? As we admired the sculptures surrounding the property we got chatting with the gardener who, upon realising we were artists, insisted we see the other works inside. So in we went and had a close encounter with a pink elephant. ‘Non-artists’ will be pleased to hear it’s officially open to visitors during the summer months. The annual festival created by Pierre Cardin is now in its 22nd season (2022) and takes place in the chateau’s quarries. It’s dedicated to theatre, dance and opera and promotes young singers at the start of their career.
The medieval village, once home to the revolutionary and all-round bad boy Marquis de Sade, has long provided a majestic setting, the purity of light appreciated by inspired creative visionaries. Over the past 20 years SCAD Lacoste has served as the American college’s flagship European residential study abroad program, offering a “premier educational experience” to SCAD students from an array of creative degree programs, such as architecture, art history, interior design, painting and film.
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE - EXPOSED IN BLACK AND WHITE
With our interest in the natural environment you will not be surprised to hear that Ansel Adams has been an inspiration for some of our landscape monochrome work. Adams (1902 - 1984) was an environmentalist and the foremost landscape photographer of the 20th century, the most widely known and beloved photographer in the United States. His most important works were devoted to what he saw as the country’s remaining fragments of untouched wilderness, together with the national parks and other protected areas, particularly in the American West. Picture - The road to Cirque du Fer à Cheval in the French Alps.
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE AT THE OPENING OF LUMA ARLES
“Over the years we’ve been delighted to witness the development of the Parc des Ateliers and now the stunning LUMA building where we were privileged to be for its public opening. A truly inspiring addition to the Arles skyline”.
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Founded by Swiss art collector Maja Hoffman’s LUMA Foundation as a platform to express their ongoing artist commitments. LUMA Arles is described as “an experimental cultural centre that questions the relationship between art, culture, environment, education and research”. This creative campus, located in the Parc des Ateliers, is a place of both production and experimentation for artists and the public alike. It hosts exhibitions of major artists and works by leading figures in contemporary creation. You’ll love it
The 27 acres of the Parc des Ateliers was formally a railway and industrial wasteland. Now the stunning Frank Gehry designed Tower and the seven original 19th-century factory buildings stand in perfect harmony. The site was first occupied by the Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee railway company and later became heavy engineering workshops for SNCF. The largest of these buildings, La Grande Halle, was built between 1888 and 1894, a 5000 square metre ‘industrial cathedral’ capable of housing steam locomotives being built or repaired.
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FLORENCE & GERTRUDE AT THE EMPIRE OF LIGHT ON A DAY TRIP DOWN TO MARGATE
What can you say about Margate that's not already been said. Well for a start it's really artsy, with the Turner Contemporary, a standout feature on the harbour-side, inspired by the life and work of JMW Turner. He found inspiration in the town’s skies, "among the most impressive in Europe". Since its opening the gallery has sparked a Margate cultural renaissance and now it's positively fizzing with artistic energy. Little wonder local girl Tracey Emin has her studio here. In the old town's cobbled streets there's vintage shops, hipster cafes and cool independent galleries. Did we mention the roller coaster and that big sandy beach? And of course Dreamland, the historic theme park with it's art deco frontage transformed into the Empire cinema, the location for the new Sam Mendes movie, Empire of Light. Florence and Gertrude were down during the filming and it was fascinating to see some of the Margate's venues adapted for film locations. Mendes said he was drawn to Margate because "it offered so much opportunity in the scale of the visual landscape”. The film is an intimate and moving story about love, friendship, and connection, set against the social turmoil of the early 1980s and stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward and Colin Firth. Posing for us at the films special screening is Keith Brymer Jones from Channel 4's The Great Pottery Throw Down. Nice coat Keith!
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE CREATIONS
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Reflections of Roussillion
Florence & Gertrude's piece No.57 is
a Dodecagon, it's twelve points a physical reflection of the rhythm of the Universe. This geometric abstraction artwork, measuring 1000mm in diameter, has its enchanting and enigmatic design deeply cut into the face of structural grade aluminium alloy plate.
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Edition limitée à cinq
Only five pieces have been produced, indicated by the five circle insignia within the work. All have an individual colour making each one unique. Roussillion Orange is inspired by the strong Provence sun reflecting on the colourful ochre cliff faces surrounding Roussillion village. A beautiful and unique Florence & Gertrude creation.
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Power & Energy
With its striking contemporary, high gloss finish the piece is suitable for both indoor and outdoor display, wall mounting, freestanding or suspending.
Please note as the works are created from solid aluminium alloy plate they weigh approximately 25kg.
Please enquire.
FLORENCE & GERTRUDE
GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION
Abstract geometric art or geometric abstraction, the use of simple geometric figures, squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, lines, combined in the complete non-objectivity of a surreal space. Visually simple, but theoretically complex, the intention is to use geometry to convey the pure feeling of creative art through works of atavistic power and energy. Since ancient times, spiritual teachers have applied meaning to certain geometric shapes which were believed to be the secret to life, a unifying presence or force that could explain the nature of every aspect of the Universe. In France, during the 1920s, geometric abstraction manifested itself as the underlying principle of the art deco movement and the widespread use of the geometric form for decorative purposes.
Florence & Gertrude continue with these traditions, having a fascination with the purity in geometry. Shapes juxtaposed, presenting the viewer with a completely different look at the world and the things in it, reducing reality to its purest and most perfect form. Inventor Thomas Edison once said "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration" Sometimes the same can be said about sculpture. Although these days computers can help with all sorts - designs, visualisations, even machining, there is no substitute for hand work and the attention to detail of hand finishing. This is very much the case with Florence & Gertrude artworks.
SAY HELLO TO FIFI OUR STUDIO CAT
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They say cats don't have owners they just have staff ! Well Fifi our studio cat has taken that to the extreme, not satisfied with mere staff she has her own resident artist and artisan to attend to her every need. She is one spoilt pussy. Like all 'aristocats' Fifi loves the finer things in life and insists on being the centre of attention, none more so than when 'helping' Florence and Gertrude with their creations. She's a very fussy eater, who likes home cooking but we suspect can also be tempted by other neighbourhood 'dining opportunities'. But Fifi's favourite food is kibbles, she adores them. Especially a delicious chicken and salmon recipe made by one of the very best suppliers, it's full of vitamins and minerals and helps keep her healthy and in tip top condition. In fact she likes them so much the brand is named after her and Fifi's 'Haute Cuisine for Cats ' is available for other cats to enjoy. Bon appetit!