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A free exhibition is being shown at Moulin Huet to celebrate the centenary of the death of impressionist Renoir, who during just a month in Guernsey, produced 15 paintings of the bay.
Art for Guernsey is celebrating his importance to the island with what they hope will be a unique exhibition, with exclusive events and a walk along the sites he chose to capture.
The exhibition will be shown at the site of the former Moulin Huet Pottery, and will show off a drawing never seen before by the public.
The organisers of the event said: "Besides providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view this work, the exhibition will inform and enlighten visitors about the artist’s time in Guernsey.
"[We have] also put together a Renoir Walk in the vicinity of Moulin Huet, encouraging participants to follow in Renoir’s footsteps and appreciate the views that inspired his paintings. Five steel frames have been especially commissioned to echo the ornate frames Renoir chose for his own artworks, but with a contemporary twist. These frames will be strategically placed along the route, allowing viewers to stand in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his paintings, and to see Moulin Huet bay from exactly the same perspectives as the Frenchman did. From Saturday 13 July, QR codes on panels adjacent to the frames can be scanned with a smartphone, allowing walkers to listen to a fascinating audio guide conducted by Mr Cyrille Sciama, a world authority on Renoir and Art for Guernsey’s guest of honour."
The walk is being launched today, 10 July, running until Sunday. During that period, actors dressed in period clothing will be enjoying the beach to mark how Renoir was 'captivated' by the bathers there.
Mr Sciama is inaugurating the walk, starting from the Bella Luce Hotel, at 11:00 on Friday 12 July, with all welcome to join. Further to that, Art for Guernsey's former artist in residence, Dimitri Permiakov, will return to the island to run free painting demonstrations on Friday 12 and Saturday 13.
David Ummels, Founder of Art for Guernsey, said: "Art for Guernsey is delighted to take part in “Le French Festival”, and to celebrate the fantastic legacy that Renoir left on the island. The Renoir Walk is a fantastic example of how art can be used effectively to engage with the community, support our tourism industry with innovative and exciting events and build further bridges with our neighbours in Normandy with a fine example of cultural diplomacy. Once again, thanks to our wonderfully passionate and multi-talented team and a bold and innovative curating strategy, we have joined the dots in a creative and surprising way.
"It is not every day that visitors have the opportunity to take a walk on our wonderful cliffs, learn about Renoir’s legacy and actually see an original artwork! I am also particularly proud to have secured the participation of Mr Sciama for the event, and I very much hope that his first visit to Guernsey will be a stepping stone for further collaboration in the future between Art for Guernsey and the Giverny Museum of Impressionism in Normandy."
A free-to-print pdf is available on the Art for Guernsey website, to guide you along the route and even inspire you to produce your own piece of art.
Pictured top: a picture of Renoir, over one of his of Moulin Huet.
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