Shown here is another view of Roujan, which I introduced to you earlier with the paintings of the Roujan Medieval Quarter, and in another street scene (with the Volkswagen). This view is from the bottom of the hill while standing between the soccer field and the wine cooperative; the school is in the forefront, and at the top of the hill is the town bell tower made of wrought iron.
One evening, as we explored the perimeter of St. Laurent Churich in the twilight, the priest offered us a personal tour of the building, along with stories of the history and architecture. On the feast day of the patron saint, St. Lawrence, the sunlight shines in a small window, illuminating the rose window at the back of the church.
[Art now on exhibit of my French experience at Aurum Studios in downtown Athens, GA for the month of February (last week!). ‘Widening the Horizon’ with Suzanne Gernandt, textile artist extraordinaire, of Waynesville and Asheville, NC.]
Illustration: Roujan Hillside, Roujan, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. 2014. Hand-painted silk twill. By René D. Shoemaker
As we walked around exploring the village of Roujan in the heat, we noticed the cool recesses of the bays - an example of which you see here behind the VW. The wine merchants built these houses, and farmers used to deliver their grapes into the wide bays, where the grapes would then be made into wine. Now the farmers use a cooperative; in Roujan, it is a big building on the edge of town, down by the soccer field.
As a silk painter, I am always searching for the perfect red. Come see this painting in person, and tell me how close I’ve come to reaching my goal.
We had a house-sitting opportunity in Roujan - what a wonderful way to experience an as-yet undiscovered part of France! Roujan is in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, near the Mediterranean Sea. The weather was hot while we were there - can you sense the heat in this painting?