Inauguration of the exhibition “A la crotz daus chamins” 

The exhibition " A la crotz daus chamins / At the crossroads" is currently being held in Nontron until April 5th. It retraces the stages of a creative research residency conducted in 2024 in Périgord-Limousin, combining arts and crafts and Occitan culture.

The origins of the project

In 2024, nine craft professionals were entrusted with the mission of promoting the cultural heritage of the region along the Grande Boucle du Parc hiking trail . This project, led by the Park, IPAMAC (Inter-Parcs Massif Central), and the Nontron and Périgord-Limousin Experimental Center for Crafts (PEMA), aimed to highlight the local heritage along the entire route. Each of the nine stages of the trail is dedicated to an emblematic figure of the Occitan world, and the artists organized themselves to work according to their own artistic and cultural connections. They were guided in this endeavor by Jean-François Vignaud of the Limousin Institute of Occitan Studies.

Throughout the year, Park staff presented the selected sites for the installation of the artworks, emphasizing their specific characteristics (materials, nature of the plots, etc.) and their natural environment to ensure respect for the local ecosystem (fauna, flora, geology, etc.). The residency format, coordinated by the team at the Arts and Crafts Experimental Center, fostered interaction among the craftspeople , the exchange of ideas, know-how, and skills, and the emergence of collaborations and dialogues between the artworks. At the end of the residency, the artists submitted nine proposed artworks, intended for installation, at a later stage, along the Park's Great Loop trail.

A dive into the creative process

The exhibition " A la crotz daus chamins / At the Crossroads," currently on display, presents the creative process and final projects through numerous drawings, as well as models and prototypes created during the residency. It offers local residents and elected officials the opportunity to discover the sculpture projects and engage with their creators. The exhibition was inaugurated on March 28th, notably in the presence of seven of the artisans, Mr. Lucien Coindeau, Vice-President of the Park in charge of culture, and Mr. José Ferré, President of PEMA.

As part of this exhibition, the PEMA and the Park are organizing three public workshops, led by three of the artisans who took part in the residency. These workshops, free upon registration (3 3 05 53 60 – contact@metiersdartperigord.fr), are intended to offer residents the opportunity to experience the creative process for themselves, whether by making a chestnut/ash stool or by working with clay.

At the crotz on the paths / At the crossroads
From March 28 to April 5 (except Sunday)
09:00 a.m. – 13:00 p.m. / 14:00 p.m. – 17:00 p.m.
Nontron Town Hall
1 Place Alfred Agard