La Petite Littorale #1
La Petite Littorale will take place at the Parc écologique Izadia in Anglet (on the Basque country coast) until August 26th, 2017. This artistic project, conceived by the cultural council of the town of Anglet and by Jean-Philippe Mercé, Visual Arts Educational Consultant for the department, was entirely implemented by elementary and high school students from Anglet. It will be on view in the park until the end of August.
The Basque coast is a prized playground for culture and tourism. Its appeal stands not only in its stunning beauty; it is also a place that raises questions on a fragile and delicate environment. La Littorale, the international contemporary art biennial of Anglet-Côte Basque, has been part of this landscape six times already, displaying outdoor works along the coast, in the Parc écologique Iziadia and at the Chambre d’Amour. 2017 is the “break” year between the two biennials, but the cultural department of the town wanted to implement an alternative artistic project: La Petite Littorale. This is a first in France: La Petite Littorale is a contemporary art biennial conceived by ten elementary classes and two high school classes from Anglet. Supervised for about 12 months by the artist association Art nOmad and a team of teachers, students aged 7 to 9 were given the opportunity to experience all the professions of the art world: exhibition curator, production manager, mediator, communication manager, artist… They participated to all the steps of the project and have given life to a trail in the Izadia Park that includes ten works of art. The theme of this first edition is Travel, Travels and echoes current world events and questions about territory.
As soon as you walk in, you can read “surprise” and “joy” on the small laminated pieces of paper that accidentally fell from the Arbre des émotions (The Emotion Tree, created by children age 7-8 from Ana Arreguy’s classroom, École Édouard-Herriot). Probably the wind… A tree that explores human emotions through words, shapes, images and colors, turning each leaf and each flower into a small universe.
Throughout the whole exhibition, there are many references to the animal world – you will stumble upon a migratory bird, a hen-boat, a lighthouse-bird – or transports – boats, planes, feet. But travelling also implies luggage. La Valise fenêtre (The Window Suitcase – created by 7-8 year old children from Chrystèle Jauniau’s classroom, École Justin-Larrebat) is an invitation to look through a gigantic and colorful « empty » suitcase: a void that gives space to our memories, our experiences and our projections.
“Don’t go where the path takes you… Go where there is no path and leave a trace!” These are the words written on the door of Le Makil’Art, an exploratory work created by Paskale Sagardoy’s 9 and 10 year old students from the École Evariste-Galois, which encourages stepping off the beaten paths and venturing into unknown territory. Shoe soles, balls of wool, drawings, pictures, words, feathers and various objects: students have taken all liberties in selecting the elements of this installation which goes along a path filled with surprises and questioning.
Parc écologique Izadia
La Barre
297 Avenue de l’Adour
64600 Anglet
Open daily except on Mondays, 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm, from April 1st to November 5th.
Open in the evening during the summer.
