Memo from J-P

For this page of oldquimper.com, we give the floor to Jean-Pierre, who serves as the CFO (Chief Feline Officer) of The Meadows Collection.  Appointed to that position in 2007, he has gamely agreed to attempt the daunting task of taking over the duties previously fulfilled by the late, but ever-present-in-our-hearts, Porquier-Beau...whose image continues to grace the upper left corner of this link.

Jean-Pierre is eleven-years old, which translates to sixty in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate. It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:

Greetings to all.

First a little bit about my background.

I was born in Paris and am thoroughly français despite paperwork that lists me as being a chat de la fôret norvégienne (Norwegian Forest Cat). My full name is Châtelain Jean-Pierre. Châtelain because being born in 2007... December 21, 2007 to be precise...means that in accordance with French regulations, my name must begin with the letter 'c'.  Those born in 2008 have names that begin with a 'd', those born in 2009 have names beginning with the letter 'e' and so on.

Châtelain is a French term from the Middle Ages used to distinguish the seigneur or lord of the manor. We live in Quimper now, so it's more like lord of the apartment...but the important part is that I rule the roost, so to speak. Jean is in reference to Jean-Baptiste Bousquet who settled in Quimper in 1699 and Pierre is in honor of his son, Pierre Bousquet, who in 1708 founded Quimper's first modern -day pottery factory.

Every once in a while I like to put the spotlight on a specific topic…it might be an unusual example of Quimper pottery or perhaps a further look at a place or structure…something  that I feel will further your enjoyment of French faïence. 

And then again, sometimes I take this opportunity to share with you some of our adventures in Quimper...because one of the results  of being so gob-smacked enamored of Quimper pottery has led to the inevitable and now we live in Quimper...right in the middle of Old Town!

Here's a snapshot report of the events of the past month...

For the most part, the folks left me on my own...and oh what fun I had when they weren't looking. But that will remain a secret. Instead I'll give you a rundown of what the folks did this past month to give you a taste of the sights and sounds of living in Quimper!

Students were out in the streets...

...part of a world-wide day of peaceful demonstrations extolling the need to recognize the effects of global warming. The banner asks that the talking stop and the doing something about it begins.

Other gatherings included a lively and musical parade to promote individuality and the recognition and acceptance of the disabled...

​Quimper itself was in full "spring"...

Quimper is designated as a "four-flower city"...the highest accolade for the hard-working gardeners and city planners...

A walk along the Steir River was so beautiful, Dad almost forgot about his hay fever...

And they came home with tales of field after field of spring flowers...

...after a "field trip"...thank you, Judy...to Plomeur where the Kaandorp family has been cultivating a lovely variety of flowering bulbs since 1980. Originally from the Netherlands, the Kaandorp's have brought a unique celebration of spring to the bigoudèn countryside. 

Each year an iconic monument is recreated in flowers...this time, it was England's St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle  painstakingly modeled with individual petals of jacinthes... hyacinthes to the rest of us. It's been rather warm and sunny these days, so the petals were a bit tired, but the sculpture was quite an impressive undertaking none the less.

And all those sunny days meant the folks continued to enjoy joining a group of randonneurs for regular weekly hikes out in the countryside...not too long, usually about 12 kilometers or so. One of the outings brought them back to St Jean Trolimon, to visit the  chapel of Notre-Dame de Tromoën...a fifteenth century "Cathedral of the Dunes" that they had first visited over twenty years ago. 

Its calvary...the largest and arguably the most elaborate of Finistère's calvaries...relates the life of Christ. (That's the Last Supper on the lower right). Used to illustrate their preachings to a largely illiterate audience, the priests strove to counteract the ingrained pagan beliefs. Softened by over five hundred and fifty years of seaside weather, the calvary remains an impressive work of art. 

One hike was punctuated with fields of carottes sables...a specific type of carrot grown in the sand along the sea...their flavor is uniquely delicious!

The folks went to several conferences and events this past month as well...

 The Amis du Musée Départemental Breton hosted a special conference on the subject of Breton furnishings...how they were constructed, used and the traditions surrounding their placement within the context of Breton society.  The museum has a wonderful  collection covering centuries of furnishings...

Emile Gallé...so famous for his 1900-era glass and pottery...also produced innovative furniture decorated with inlaid woods in picturesque designs...like this scene of three petite bretonnes on a boat ride. It's the central motif on a small table that is part of a set of nesting side tables. 

Emile Gallé was not responsible for any Quimper pottery, but Paul Fouillen and Jim Eugène Sévellec certainly were. And they designed furniture, too! And like their ceramics, they were greatly inspired by the traditions of Brittany. The chair and small side table in the foreground are by Paul Fouillen, while the cabinet in the back is the work of Sévellec.

One of the slides presented during the conference...Art Déco stylings with a decidedly Breton twist.

Below is a very different slide...presented during a conference about the relatively-unknown history of  Breton women who were members of the French Resistance during World War II. 

Normal, everyday Bretonnes who rose to the occasion in remarkable ways...smuggling arms, documents and people with incredible courage and conviction.  Pictured above is Marie-José Chombart de Lauwe of the Ile de Bréhat.  Born in 1923, she provided invaluable information to the fight against the occupying forces by transmitting information she hid in her school books via a radio secluded behind a painting in the Wilbort family home.

Another conference celebrated the return of two nineteenth century statues to Quimper's Ty Mamm Doué chapel.  Depicting Saint Joseph and Saint Corentin, they had recently been  restored to their original glory and a representative of the firm that completed the delicate procedures explained the process.  

Here, the work crew is shown in the process of removing the carved wooden figure of Saint Corentin...

And here is the fully-restored figure...complete with mitre and crosier...specific style of hat and staff respectively, that are traditionally reserved for Bishops.

As usual, the folks went out dancing several times...they really enjoy Breton dancing, but other types of dancing and music are of interest as well. So when the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Quimper opened the floor to the students of the local music conservancy, it was a must-see (and hear).

Expositions and gallery hopping were not forgotten, either...one event featured art created with found and recycled objects...

...like this highly-detailed carved figure crafted from discarded bicycle tires!

And the number one topic of conversation in France? Why food, of course. So any event that brings together wine makers and specialty food producers is bound to be a big success. The folks went to the 25th Quimper edition of the Salon Vins Gastronomie and brought home wine, cheese and tomatoes...

...obviously too much sampling going on to include a picture of the wine, but they did enjoy the display of. tome de brebis...a variety of cheese made from sheeps' milk... 

...and they must have really enjoyed the sun-dried tomatoes...they came home with two big bags...

...coming all the way from Limoux...near Carcassonne...it was the first time "au jardin des délices de dany" had been to the salon in Quimper and the tomatoes were a welcome addition! The sign notes that it takes 2240 pounds of fresh tomatoes to make just 200 pounds of sun-dried tomatoes. Used for making confits, soups, stews, and salads, the two bags full should hold the folks over until our tomato plants start to produce.

And me? Well, while they were out and about, I enjoyed my life as a cat in Quimper...lots of sleeping, eating, playing and grooming myself. But I worked, too...here I am "helping" with this issue...

That's my memo for this month; I hope you enjoy my sharing of our adventures in Quimper!