Dry stone and landscape art in the Gorges du Gardon biosphere reserve

Published by xavier on 17 November 2023

France

Introduction

An ambitious project based on art, landscapes and dry stone. Through an artist’s residence, three ephemeral works have revealed the heritage of the Gorges du Gardon Biosphere Reserve. Placed in places presenting a small vernacular heritage, on marked walking routes, these works of Land Art, essentially consisting of materials already present on the sites (stone, wood, plants…), were conceived as part of an educational work with the schools, then built with the help of the inhabitants. Beyond the artistic and poetic dimension of the works, this project is based on a participatory dimension and has reached various audiences. The Observatory of Resilience, a permanent work in dry stone, will continue to witness a collective will to affirm the identity of the territory around the dry stone while honoring the specificities of the scrubland and its vernacular heritage.

Presentation of the project

This artistic and participatory project, around the theme of dry stone in the landscape has revealed the heritage of municipalities (Sainte-Anastasie, Cabrières, Poulx and La Calmette) located in the heart of the Biosphere Reserve of the Gorges du Gardon. Under the guidance and the wise eye of an artist in residence, three ephemeral works were the first part of the project. These works of Land Art are placed in places with a small ordinary heritage, on marked walking routes, so as to create local points of interest. Essentially made up of materials already present on the sites (stone, wood, plants…), they were designed as part of an educational work carried out with the schools and colleges of the territory, then built with the help of the inhabitants. Beyond the artistic and poetic dimension of the works, this project is based on a participatory dimension and has reached various audiences. Their involvement has been essential to the transmission and appropriation of heritage and environmental resources. The second component of this project is The Observatory of Resilience, a permanent work that will continue to bear witness to a collective will to promote dry stone and assert the identity of the territory. She invites visitors to question the harmonious cohabitation between man and nature. The animation around this project, the last part, gave rise to shows, concerts, walks, meetings to highlight the works, the specificities of garrigues and its vernacular heritage. In addition to funding, the LEADER program involves LAG stakeholders in the reflection and co-construction of the project with the setting up of a technical committee: identification of the locations of the works, partnerships with schools, selection of the architects’ group for the permanent work, animations…

The Emblematic character of the project

The project is innovative because it brings alive and present an ancient heritage know-how listed in France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Art of Dry Stone. This art forms part of the identity of our territory with many constructions (walls, clapas, capitals…). The participation, civic involvement and ownership of a specific territory by combining art, heritage and landscape is particularly remarkable. It has contributed to the transfer of know-how and is preserving our heritage while bringing together many partners. This project is a LEADER priority of our strategy because it responds to several important issues of our territory: the preservation and transmission of heritage, the development of local, sustainable tourism and social cohesion through mobilization and citizen participation. The project is based on a large number of actors (municipalities, associations, integration sites, inhabitants, etc.) and creates a link in the region. This project is transferable since it relies on the valorization of local know-how and landscapes. The method, combining a social, intergenerational dimension of transmission is reproducible as well as the intersection of the means implemented (artistic creation, walks…). In addition, the joint union is already working with other territories to create a cooperation project around dry stone.

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