Arles 2013 - Who is going?

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For those who do not know about 'Les Rencontres d'Arles', here is a link: http://www.rencontres-arles.com/A11/Home

Its a huge gathering of varied photography, both in type (and quality) and a thought provoking experience, all washed down with wine. Roger and Francis have written about it quite extensively. I would provide links only my ISP seems to be allowing me access to only half the Internet... I'm sure Roger will add links anyway.

I went for the first time in 2011, could not make 2012, but will be going (and exhibiting) this year.

Who else plans on going? I'll be there for the first week, with perhaps a day either end.
 
Dear Tom,

Frances and I will be there, and (unless things go wrong) exhibiting too. We'll be at our usual hotel, from a bit before the opening day (July 1st) to rather after the end of the week. Where are you staying?

For those who'd like to see our reports on past Rencontres (every year is different, but in another way, every year is the same -- LOTS of different exhibitions):

2008 http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/arles 2008.html

2009 http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/arles 2009.html

2010 http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/arles 2010.html

Notes for potential visitors: you don't need to speak French (though it helps) but you do need to book reasonably far in advance -- ideally NOW, if you want inexpensive rooms. Ours, inside the city walls, with shower, handbasin, toilet, TV is 40€ a night (about $50).

Mods: can you make this sticky? It would be great to see as many people as possible from RFF there -- and there are more Leicas to the square metre in Arles than anywhere else except perhaps the factory.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger,

Since you're now in charge of arrangements: line me up a nice-looking car and a couple of girls. I'll be there. Tell the hotel I want non-smoking. Oh, and the girls: not too tall.

Thanks!

Vince
 
I'm having second thoughts on the budget front (TGV ticket) but might, maybe, possibly, perhaps still go along for a week or so. And of course, if I do go, I'll be staying in my palatial tent on the campsite again.
 
sparrow6224 said:
Roger,

Since you're now in charge of arrangements: line me up a nice-looking car and a couple of girls. I'll be there. Tell the hotel I want non-smoking. Oh, and the girls: not too tall.

Thanks!

Vince
Click to expand...
Dear Vince,

Sure, no problem. All I need is your $10,000 non-refundable deposit, girls extra(10% finder's fee). Any language preferences?

Cheers,

R.
 
I'm not going this year - other travel plans - but it was a great experience last year! Maybe in 2014?

Tom
 
I'm going to Arles this year, from July 4th to 8th! Last time I've been there was in 1990. I hope to meet some of you!

Does anyone have some tips for me? What tickets should I buy? Are there any must-see exhibitions? Workshops?

Thank you very much!
 
VF101 said:
I'm going to Arles this year, from July 4th to 8th! Last time I've been there was in 1990. I hope to meet some of you!

Does anyone have some tips for me? What tickets should I buy? Are there any must-see exhibitions? Workshops?

Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
They're ALL must-see -- so you know what's crap and what's good. Buy the unlimited-entry pass and go to EVERYTHING you can fit in. Check my site (see signature) for past Arles.

Be at the Hotel Voltaire (Place Voltaire) on Monday night (1st -- change your dates!) at 1900 (7 pm) so we can all discuss what to see and what to miss.

Will post vernissage (official opening night) for my exhibition nearer the day. So will Turtle.

Cheers,

R.
 
i happened to be in Arles last year during the festival and for some reason it just was the worst day on our europe trip.

was really hot.
some gypsies pulled my girlfriend's hair from the train station.
didn't seem to be much else to see in the town.
i think the colosseum was under renovation.
went to the van gogh garden where the leica booth was and it felt like a billion little flies were hanging around.
hit up a cafe the food wasn't great.
checked out some of the free exhibitions but didn't really feel inspired to pay to see the others. it is pricey if you don't get the all day pass and if you don't know what is good or not.

sorry just needed to rant
 
FA Limited said:
i happened to be in Arles last year during the festival and for some reason it just was the worst day on our europe trip.

was really hot.
some gypsies pulled my girlfriend's hair from the train station.
didn't seem to be much else to see in the town.
i think the colosseum was under renovation.
went to the van gogh garden where the leica booth was and it felt like a billion little flies were hanging around.
hit up a cafe the food wasn't great.
checked out some of the free exhibitions but didn't really feel inspired to pay to see the others. it is pricey if you don't get the all day pass and if you don't know what is good or not.

sorry just needed to rant
Click to expand...
You NEVER know what's good or not and trying to 'do Arles' in one day is like trying to 'do Yurrup' in a week.

Addendum (from Frances, born in Rochester, NY): "We've all been there. You start out with a bad day, and it's bad, SO IT'S GOING TO CARRY ON BEING BAD, DAMMIT. Be a little more open, and stay a little longer, and maybe it ain't so bad after all."

Arles is NOT about instant gratification. As 'Rencontres", or "meetings", suggests, it's about meeting people. This is a two-way street.

Cheers,

R.
 
These kind of big events can be sort of a lose-lose situation. Bad if they're bad, but even if they're good, you can quickly sink into overload.
 
gns said:
These kind of big events can be sort of a lose-lose situation. Bad if they're bad, but even if they're good, you can quickly sink into overload.
Click to expand...
VERY true. The trick is to walk out as soon as you realize that an exhibition is (as far as you're concerned) crap. With maybe 200 exhibitions, Arles has a LOT of crap. But even with as little as 10% good stuff, you can still see 20 good exhibitions. That's a hell of a lot of good exhibitions in a week (don't even try to do it in a day).

Cheers,

R.
 
I never like to see more than a couple of gallery shows in a day. If I'm going to a museum, it's almost always to see just one exhibit and go. Traveling is hard...You want to get in what you can with limited time, like seeing the D'Orsay or Uffizi in an afternoon. It's never the best situation.
 
gns said:
I never like to see more than a couple of gallery shows in a day. If I'm going to a museum, it's almost always to see just one exhibit and go. Traveling is hard...You want to get in what you can with limited time, like seeing the D'Orsay or Uffizi in an afternoon. It's never the best situation.
Click to expand...
Yeah, okay, don't go to Arles. But if you can dump the view that all art warrants breathless respect and serious attention, it's a lot more fun. Exhibitions at Arles are NOT the Louvre or the Rijksmuseum, so don't treat them as such. In fact, don't treat the Louvre or the Rijksmuseum as the Louvre or the Rijksmuseum. Look at the art instead. Don't try to "get in what you can with limited time". Treat the art with respect instead.

Cheers,

R.
 
In Arles before Les Rencontres d'Arles-recommendations?

In Arles before Les Rencontres d'Arles-recommendations?

Unfortunately, I will be in Arles the first ten days of June. Since it's my first visit, any suggestions for the city or surrounding region?
Thanks!
Denton
 
Roger Hicks said:
You NEVER know what's good or not and trying to 'do Arles' in one day is like trying to 'do Yurrup' in a week.

Addendum (from Frances, born in Rochester, NY): "We've all been there. You start out with a bad day, and it's bad, SO IT'S GOING TO CARRY ON BEING BAD, DAMMIT. Be a little more open, and stay a little longer, and maybe it ain't so bad after all."

Arles is NOT about instant gratification. As 'Rencontres", or "meetings", suggests, it's about meeting people. This is a two-way street.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

hey roger and frances really appreciate the reply. we didn't really plan to be at the photo exhibition explicitly, thought we could drop by and take a peek. that's not really the best way to enjoy an exhibition eh? not sure when i'll ever be back there but that's definitely some good advice. glad to know it's not just me who can have a bad day at arles!
 
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