Collection Lambert (Continued...)

To continue my entry before last, this Wednesday I went to the Collection Lambert (see link below) with Caitlin and Justin—probably the two people I spend the most time with here, in fact. This collection of contemporary art was marked in all of my guidebooks for the area—since I have a million (3)—as a place that is "not to miss," er, ne pas manquer.

Currently, the main artist is Candice Breitz. Her work at the Coll. Lambert focused on the idea of Fandom or Pop Culture. If you go to her site, go to work > video, and watch "Queen," and "Mother + Father."

The first video is a tribute to Madonna. She took a selection of 30 of Madonna’s biggest fans and then recorded each fan individually singing along karaoke style to one of her CDs. Then, she put each person on a screen and has them play simultaneously to create a very interesting chorus. She actually has done the same thing with John Lennon ("Working Class Hero"), Michael Jackson ("King"), and Bob Marley ("Legend").


Screen shot of "Queen"
The second video is really, as you’ll see, two seperate videos : one, a "tribute" to mothers, and the other to fathers. It was an interesting idea, as she took famous mother roles from movies (Susan Sarandon/Julia Roberts in "Stepmom", Faye Dunaway in "Mummy Dearest," etc) and famous father roles and then patched the clips together to form a really interesting montage.


Screenshot of "Mother"/"Father"

Also, you should go under photos and look at the different "Monument" photos. They were HUGE and dedicated to different groups of fans, and, much in the same way that the fans expressed their individuality in the karaoke choirs, the fans did the same thing here for Iron Maiden, Britney Spears, Abba, Marilyn Manson and the Grateful Dead. Very cool, especially when you see them all together (sample below).


Britney Spears Monument


Abba Monument

Alright, now I'm going to bed. I think we're either going to go see a movie tomorrow or, if it's not MONSOONING like it did tonight, we're going to borrow bikes and bike over to the Ile de la Barthelasse for a picnic. Then, Jean-Pierre is going to pick me up at the Gare in Avignon (as he'll be in Eyragues for the day) so that I can spend Sat. night to Monday afternoon with my family in Miramas. Woot.

Oh, and about that rain... It began to flood my second story bedroom tonight. No lie. Apparently if you don't immediately shut your volets—shutters—the water beats at the old doors (this is a beautiful, but old, house)—and comes right on in... I, as I was sitting at my desk, didn't notice this at all and, not used to living in an old house like this (especially when up on the 2nd floor), gave no thought to flooding... until Isabelle came running in and was (essentially like and also in français) "AHHH! We have to shut the volets!!!" and then proceeded to explain why to me. I felt horrible, but they weren't mad, and we got all the water cleaned up just fine. Just another mini adventure about the differences between the two countries. Oh well. Anyways, night all.