The African-American artist Tony Ramos having lunch with another American artist Charlotte Novitz
©2010 Robert D. Hale

Image from my first exhibition in France
©2010 Robert D. Hale

Aix-en-Provence France

I had been coming to Provence every six months since 2006, it was only in July of 2009 that I finally made the permanent move; so you see I’m still finding my way as an artist, and as an legal alien. The biggest hurtle for now, is the language. Although I studied French in high school and in college, I never put it to practical use. As all of you who have moved to a country where your mother tongue is seldom heard, it’s a bit daunting. I’m learning though. The incentive to build a career and reputation here pushes me forward. I used to say that I knew enough to get into trouble, but not enough to get out.

I arrived in Provence for the first time on July 4, 2006, for the opening reception of the African- American painter Tony Ramos. That summer the city of Aix-en-Provence was celebrating their favorite son, Cezanne, by hosting citywide exhibitions based on his famous paintings of Mount Sainte Victoire, the mountain that dominates the city’s skyline. My first impressions were probably the same as thousands of other artists and creative types who ventured south for the warmth, but especially for the light! Provence is very much like Southern California, in that it has a similar look and feel. I knew immediately that I could live here.

That first summer was dominated by heat, color, sounds, food and wine. It seemed that everyday offered more food, more wine, more visits to homes of friends and fellow expatriates who celebrated life with a gusto not often seen in the States, even in California, and they loved and appreciated my work! I was able to get my first offer for an exhibition in a very short time.

One observation I made was that one gets two free passes in France, if you look at it in a certain way; one is that your skin color doesn’t matter in the same way as it does in The United States, and the other; they respect and admire artists. For the first time I realized why artists of color would choose to live and create here. There is a certain freedom that just doesn’t exist any other place I’ve been, and I’ve lived in other parts of Europe, and spent time in Asia. Think about all the artists, musicians, writers, and dancers, singers who have lived and prospered creatively in France.

Now those are some of the good parts; but you know there has to be a downside. There is. France like most of the world is becoming increasingly difficult to live and work in. What was relatively easy 15, 20 years ago, has become more difficult. Some of it you can blame on 9/11, but more importantly times have changed. The world’s economies are shifting. Some formally so-called third world countries are now first world, and prosperous Western countries are declining. Art has always been a difficult proposition. If you don’t have a patron, or a marketing firm behind you, the prospects are daunting, and France is no different. While it will be easier to exhibit, once you make inroads into the system, don’t expect to make a lot of money. I think what most artists do here, is to live, be creative, produce, and sell abroad.

So that’s it for now. In the future I hope to give you more information and insight into how you can make contacts here, as well as the neighboring countries of Spain and Italy. Be well, stay creative, and remember that complacency is the enemy of success.

Salut,

Robert Hale/Photographer