Art in the street in Melle

Writing my post about the photography event BarrObjectif earlier this week made me realise that our local market town of Melle has also gone a bit arty. Since June a number of bold pieces have been on display, dotted around the streets and buildings of the town. The event is a contemporary art exhibition titled Etre Humain Et Le Savoir Ensemble, roughly translated as To Be Human and to Know it Together. I say roughly as it could also mean Human Beings and Know-it-alls, so I asked a French friend for her advice and she said it could be either, depending on your point of view - very contemporary!

I had a bit of time to spare after an appointment in Melle this week, the sun was shining and the sky was blue, so I went for a walk with my camera. Here are just a few of the displays. I was particularly fascinated by the blue circles painted on houses, walls and shutters by the church of Sainte Hilaire, to give the illusion of being suspended in space. Very clever, however I'm not sure how pleased I would have been to have part of a circle painted on my house in the name of contemporary art.

Sometimes it seems the only culture or entertainment available in rural France is Johnny Hallyday or Boney M at the village disco, but this week proves that isn't always the case.

Etre Humain et le Savoir Ensemble

A large shell in front of a face

A hitchhiker's sign seul (alone)

Men with wings on the market halle

The Blue Circles