Cholet. Artists, concerts, workshops… The Salon des Arts opens this Sunday with “new features”

For a week, the rides at the Saint-Denis fair will no longer be the only ones to cause a sensation. Alongside them, the Cholet village hall will host the traditional Salon des Arts from Sunday October 13 to 20, organized each year by Cholet Événements. Exhibiting in a quality space of such a large size is not commonrejoices its president, the Cholet painter Arno Bigot, who promises several noveltiesat the dawn of this 54th edition.

Presence of a guest of honor

After the arrival of the sculptor Martine Vaugel last year, it is the turn of the visual artist and watercolorist ofinternationally renownedJérôme Cossé, to be in the spotlight. Arno Bigot remembers it, it was at one of the largest art fairs in Europe – the Art Capital exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris – that he suggested she exhibit here. It is in high demand and will soon be inaccessible to ushe emphasizes, visibly seduced, like the other members of the jury, by his very contemporary work attitude and his works strange, which attract us at first glance. We immediately hooked upcontinues the artist alongside him, who will exhibit new works made of deconstructed photos, charcoal drawings and plexiglass.

A work of art made live

But that’s not all. Jérôme Cossé will also compose a live work for specific slots as part of this event. This will take shape on an impressive block of Plexiglas which sits in the middle of the 60 m² space reserved for it. The only challenge will be not to splash the walls or water the ceilinghe laughs. And to emphasize: This is not a performance or a demonstration. The artist prefers to see a moment of sharing with the publica way of bringing his workshop back to the people of Cholet, to show them how he creates. He has carte blanche and the goal is for him to surprise usenthuses the president. If its subject still remains definehe tells us, the theme could well revolve around vegetal.

More than a hundred artists

In addition to its highlighted creations, the public will also be able to admire those of the 114 artists – out of the 116 announced – who will each present two works in one of the three categories proposed: painting, sculpture and drawing on paper. We had over 170 applications this yearincluding many international artists from Germany, Egypt and Australia, welcomes Arno Bigot, S’il se dit very proud of the quality of the works presented, the real surpriseaccording to him, can be discovered through works on paper. A new category for which the number of candidates has almost tripled, from 9 to 25 proposals. Watercolor, pastel, charcoal, ballpoint pencil… This also allows local artists to express yourself in the middle of a bustling base of more established artists.

Several prizes and a concert

To honor this selection, the Salon jury — essentially composed of artists and art collectors — therefore restructured the prize lists. This year there are three Ville de Cholet 1st prizes (1) and three public prizes awarded in the categories of paintings, sculptures and works on paper. Arno Bigot knows it: It’s going to be a hell of a creative adventure with lots of new things. This is particularly the case with the Nocturne Jazz, inspired by the Nocturnes of the Musée d’Orsay, which will be organized on Thursday October 17 at 7 p.m. with the guitarist, Serge Stephani, accompanied by the saxophonist, Laurent Papin. An idea well received by Jérôme Cossé, who still works in music. The president warns: And be careful, these are good ones!

(1) Painting: Aurélie Jeannin – Sculptures – Lionel Moyet – Work on paper: Benoît Cesbron

More information: Salon des Arts. Exhibition from October 13 to 20 at the Salle des Fêtes in Cholet. Free entry.

BOX – Visitors will not remain unmoved

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, the public will take a part active at the event. First of all by voting for your favorite works, in each of the three categories proposed. But also by participating in various workshops and meetings organized with artists present on site. During a visit, visitors will also have the opportunity to give free rein to their imagination through a pattern drawing competition, open to children and adults alike. These budding artists will, however, be allowed to use only a wooden pencil and an eraser, laughs Arnaud Bigot, impatient to see their creations on a dedicated wall of the exhibition. I’m struggling a bit with the whole installation part but once it’s finished, we’ll really be able to improvise and have funconcludes the president, who hopes that the public will still be there.