A Van Gogh Kind of Day

One day we began by going to Arles where Van Gogh - loving the light and colors there - painted some of his most well known pieces. Then we went to St. Remy, to the open to the public part of the mental hospital where he was treated yet free to paint. Art therapy apparently is a major component of the treatment there to this day, and artwork by the patients is displayed and for sale in one room. I would have loved to have gone in to the real hospital, but confidentiality is the same here as there, y'know.

In Arles and St. Remy, easels held copies of his paintings that were done in that very place. It was all quite thrilling, but the most emotional part of this Van Gogh day was a magnificent slide show of his art that was projected on the stones in a huge, ancient open quarry called Cathedral d'Images in Les Baux. Music of Handel, Mozart and Saint-Saens was played as Vincent's art was cast upon the stones, one after another, each brush hair magnified. Yet what I heard in my head were the lyrics from Don McLean's song "...I could have told you Vincent, this world was not meant for one as beautiful as you. Starry, starry night..."

In Arles


In St. Remy with Vincent



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This was an interesting little piece of sculpture in the room that sold a few souvenirs and art done by the patients there.