Saint-Paul de Vence Stole My Heart – While vacationing in the French Riviera, my husband & I visited the legendary ancient Provencal village of Saint Paul de Vence, an ideal destination for a day trip away from the Cote D’Azur. The medieval village is an exceptional and unique place of narrow and picturesque streets where art abounds at every corner. I first visited this magical place in Spring 2009 when I took the “Modern French Painting in Nice” course and we learned about the famous 20th century art that abounds in this region, understandably so given the inspiring landscape! Walking into the walled city, I was ecstatic to find a Quilted Heart attached to the first statue we saw – an Alberto Giacometti (Swiss-born sculptor, painter and print-maker) tourist/ hiker man. Giacometti’s almost-Surrealist style is gaunt and tortured figures – this “Man Walking” is similar to a piece that sold at Sotheby’s London auction in 2010 for a record breaking $104.3 million. The quilted heart reminded me of a personal touch in this world that is smaller than we think – it was a perfect way to start my vacation and share an optimistic outlook that love and joy exist in this world! Xx
