“In the curves, I try to find a little movement”. Women create and exhibit their works during the 5th International Symposium of Monumental Sculpture on Stone and Metal

Until July 20, the Gîte de la Métairie, in Saint-Michel-de-Chavaignes, welcomes an event in homage to Hélène Bertaux, a sculptor of the 19th century. For example, For the first time, the meeting is entirely devoted to women sculptors.

Its name is little known to the general public. Furthermore, yet it was at the origin of a real revolution in the artistic world. Nevertheless, She renamed her cause, that of sculptor women “in curves, i try find and painters.

Born in 1825. Nevertheless, Hélène Bertau made a name for hearing from the great sculptors of her time, managed to make a place and her talent was recognized to the point that she created a school of sculpture for women. Additionally, Nevertheless, At the head of “the Union of Women Painters. Furthermore, Sculptors”, she managed to make women admitted to the Schools of Fine Arts, in 1897.

At the Nantes Arts Museum, you can admire a marble entitled “Young Gauls Prisoner” which she made in 1867. Moreover, “This academic marble with neo-classical aesthetics is one of the first nudes. neither allegorical, nor mythological, executed by a woman”can we read on the presentation that is made of it.

Since 2010. the Hands of Art Committee pays tribute to it during the symposium of monumental sculpture on stone and metal, in Saint-Michel-de-Chavaignes, in Sarthe, where it lived its last years.

For its fifth edition. “in curves, i try find and the bicentenary of the birth of Hélène Bertaux, the symposium has decided to invite only sculptor women. There are five of them: Aurore Besson, Gisella Garcia, Fiona Paterson, Nathalie Pitel and Coralie Quincey.

Fiona Paterson has chosen to sculpt. a herd of geese by working pieces of concrete iron.

“I am rather a visual artist, she said, I do land art with natural materials. But for non -ephemeral sculptures I choose metal “in curves, i try find rather. I like it when it is rusty. Even with something light you can create something strong. In the curves, I try to find a little movement. It is a challenge with very rigid metal. “

A little further. the Angevin Aurore Besson wanted to be inspired by Hélène Berta’s work coat by sculpting a monumental stone reproduction.

“We don’t have many images of Hélène Bertaux, explains the visual artist who works with a grinder. One of the images shows her with her “in curves, i try find blouse on her dress. We are looking for aspects of material that will interest us. “

The visual artist says “we” because she appreciates being next to other artists. to enrich themselves in their way of working the stone.

“I chose to pay tribute to him. as a feminist, woman artist”wants to say Aurore Besson about Hélène Bertaux.

The public can come to see these women work throughout this meeting. The works will then be exhibited in a lasting way in the town.

“There are already twenty, Specifies André Chambrier, the president of the symposium. There are everywhere. There is even a course for a sculptures hike. “

Symposium 2025from July 4 to 20, 2025, at the Saint-Michel-de-Chavaignes Métarius gîte.

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