Last summer I had the pleasure of having lunch with the French artist & sculptor Francoise Jolivet & her husband Roy Lekas, a documentary film maker. It was a delight to meet this charming couple & to learn about their work. Roy is American but at the formative age of twenty he traveled to France where he immediately fell in love with France & Francoise. He has never looked back.
Now this being the season of all things pumpkin, I thought it a good time to share some of the lovely work of Francoise. Her beautiful sculpted pumpkins or potirons have been exhibited in Paris & through out Europe.They are also the subject of a film by Lekas,
L' Alchimiste du Potiron.
This collaborative effort by husband & wife documents the artistic process of these most intricate organic sculptures.
L' Alchimiste du Potiron.
This collaborative effort by husband & wife documents the artistic process of these most intricate organic sculptures.
Photos from website of Francoise Jolivet
You may wonder as I did why the pumpkins do not decompose. Francoise has developed a method of hardening & preserving them at just the desired maturity, turning the living pumpkin into an actual stone sculpture.
I thought that you too might find this talented couple & their work interesting just as I did.
So to celebrate the pumpkin season I am linking to Paulita's Dreaming of France.
Exquisite work! Thanks for the film clip....I love the music.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
Ruby
Wow. This is amazing, even if it wasn't French. But it is, so even better. Thanks for playing along.
ReplyDeleteThat's very cool. I love pumpkin, and was thrilled to try potiron twice today, in different formulations- and i hope to try more French pumpkin adventures.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! These are extraordinary, Sally. Indeed, a gifted artist's hand is at work here. Thank you so much for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteSally, I can't find a contact email for you. Touch base if you would - I want to ask you something! Joan Perry - charlestonjoan@gmail.com (charlestondailyphoto.blogspot.com)
ReplyDeletewauw,these are beautiful
ReplyDeletethat lst one my favorite
but
i want to ask you
for i am the host of the DC
are you in?
Oh my goodness, those sculpted pumpkins are simply amazing!!! I am totally swooning right now. xo
ReplyDeleteC'est vraiment très beau.
ReplyDeleteThese are remarkable, Sally. The minds of artists work in funny ways. Ornate pumpkins? How does that pop into one's mind?
ReplyDelete