Marlene Luce Tremblay

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Life & Friendship

Part 5 – Bordeaux, France

My next destination led me to my friends, Patrick & François, whose home is located in the heart of the city of Bordeaux facing Place Gambetta. Patrick picked me up at the airport and brought me with my very heavy luggage to their home, which is not an easy task going up the stairs. When I entered their home, I found myself in the middle of artifacts that they collected, especially design furniture from famous designer collections. I was not only in a home but also in an architectural digest setting.

Patrick is a historian and engaged in preserving the heritage of his city and more specifically, Place Gambetta. He is the founder of an association, L’esprit Gambetta’, committed to the preservation of the cultural heritage and fighting for the rehabilitation of Place Gambetta, a historical landmark of the city of Bordeaux. Patrick is an artist at heart in appreciation of the arts in all genres, hence his passion for history and architecture.

I met Patrick in Paris in September 2005 when I was showing my Egyptian series entitled ‘L’Égypte à mes yeux’ at Le Centre Culturel d’Égypte during the month of archaeology. His undeniable passion for Egypt & archaeology comes from his family heritage.

François, an economist, looks more like an artist to me which he expresses in his way of life. The base of his delicious cooking is bio food and his concern for the environment is relentless. His thesis takes into account the economy together with sustainable development & the protection of the environment. A humanist at heart and what the world needs now to go forward.

Patrick & François treated me like a princess, always making sure I was safe and comfortable, a true delight in my life. They shared their life and their friends so generously, with a wide array of interests from the world of history & architecture to the arts. An inspiration and an uplifting energy that I needed to continue on my journey for the artist way can be at times a lonely path.

François et le sable

Designer chair

Designer chair 2

Patrick et sa collection

Place Gambetta

Place Gambetta à la pleine lune

François le chef

Inspiration of the Flat Iron Building in New York

L'Opéra de Bordeaux

Place de la Bourse à Bordeaux

Patrick dans le désert

Patrick et sa collection

Patrick le magnifique

Les amis de Patrick et François

Patrick, le portrait Reubens

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Life & Friendship

Part 4

Geneva, Switzerland

From Thonon-les-Bains to Geneva, I visited my dear friend, Marian, who now works at the Palais des Nations, after having worked in Kenya and at UN Headquarters in New York. We met shortly after I returned to work at the United Nations when a position was available in the Africa Section where Marian was working at the time until she left for a higher post in Kenya. When she left, I took over her work searching images to illustrate articles for the magazine entitled ‘Africa Renewal’, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Working in the Africa Section was an amazing experience, especially with our new Chief, Masimba, who modernized the style of the magazine and was able to create a very dynamic team spirit. The Africa Section was well renowned for its lively parties, especially when our dear Kingsley came from Liberia to join the Africa Section.

To be a guest in Marian’s home is quite a treat for I had the impression of living in the clouds. She has an amazing view from her balcony to the Lac Léman, the mountains and the famous Mont Blanc. I was pleasantly surprised to see portraits of her family that I did for Marian before she left New York, as well as other images of my artwork all over her apartment. It’s quite nice to find my art across the Atlantic.

While in Geneva, I also met with my other of my friends whom I had not seen in long while. To my surprise, I found my friend, Amal, who was also in Geneva working as a journalist for Al Ahram, an important newspaper in Egypt. I met Amal in Cairo in 2004 while I was showing my series ‘Iconic Egypt & Beyond’ at the Al Ahram Art Gallery and at which time she interviewed me for the magazine, Al-Shabab, a two-page in-depth article. Needless to say, we remained friends ever since and Amal visited me in New York thereafter. I introduced her to Marian and I’m so pleased that they are now good friends.

Before I left on my trip, I contacted my friends, Florence & Hervé, so that we could arrange to meet during my stay in Geneva. I met Florence & Hervé in Paris during my show ‘L’Égypte à mes yeux’ at the Centre Culturel d’Égypte in 2005. Florence & Hervé are important art collectors and they purchased the piece ‘La danse de la lumière’, which is now hanging in their home in Geneva. Florence is the founder of a non-profit organization Asseda (Association Suisse de soutien aux enfants défavorisés ou abandonnés), consisting of four orphanages based in Colombia, Sierra Leone, DR Congo and Egypt. Florence is of a very altruistic nature and a humanitarian at heart, who I admire a great deal, and I believe this is as a result of the way she was raised as her father was a very important figure at the Red Cross.

Florence is organizing a silent auction in May next year to raise funds for Asseda and my heart called for me to donate three pieces of my ‘Love’ series for I know that all the funding goes to help children in need.

During my two-week stay at Marian’s home, I had the chance to visit Le Palais des Nations and Palais Wilson, home of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Although I never did work at Palais des Nations, it felt like home and the UN family is very dear to me, especially the friends I have made throughout the years who have a special place in my heart. Thanks to Marian, I was able to immerse myself, once again, in that international world.