CRAC and LAC

Well it's been so long, I can hardly remember how to update my blog, but here we are again, recording a couple of thoughts for posterity (well, for the two other people who actually read the thing - hi Sarah, hi Helen). I'm not even sure that either of them are all that bothered about contemporary art (although H is into her pots - sorry, ceramics - and Pierre Soulages) but for what it's worth, I just wanted to big up the CRAC and the LAC, both of which I've visited since my last posting. And hey, I said I planned to get there, so at least I'm as good as my word.

The LAC (Lieu d'Art Contemporain) is now closed for the winter except by appointment, but there's nothing to stop you ringing them up and arranging to go down to Sigean for an afternoon. I popped down with Sylvia of FRUC-fame (oh do keep up - if you've read the previous posts you'll understand) and we had a jolly time checking out Robert Morris' work, and a very odds n' sods, eclectic collection of works by all kinds of artists whose names you'd recognise (like Yves Klein - yes, he of that lovely blue). The space itself is huge (it's an old winery, I believe) and its rather lovely to stumble across it amidst the new build, breeze block landscape that is the outskirts of Sigean. There's certainly lots of silence in which to ponder the works on display, and plenty of space within which to admire them, so on that front it's a winner. It's not exactly the Saatchi gallery, but then Languedoc ain't London either, so there you go. Check it out at www.lac.narbonne.com or call 04 68 48 83 62.

And next up, the CRAC (Centre Regional d'Art Contemporain), in Sete, a good half hour's schelp from the station but by the time you get there you're really ready to sit down and drink it all in. They've got a great show on until October 15 (hurry, hurry!) called Les Fils de Marcel (yes, more of that Chauffe Marcel expo I've talked about before), with rooms housing amazing installations that get you thinking "how did they do that?" (or sometimes, why did they do that?) That's the funny thing about living here: you have to make much more of an effort to get to some bona fide contemporary art, so when you do finally achieve your goal, it feels good and you just appreciate it that much more. http://crac.lr.free.fr

Next posting: SNAC and WACK. No actually it's the Musee de Serignan. Don't hold your breath, though. It may take me a while to get round to blogging it.