When we decided to enjoy breakfast by the water, we had no idea that we were also in for a special treat. The quai had been set up with tents, about twenty of them, for artisans to display their works of art. Turns out that this was a "By Invitation Only" event and most of the artisans were recipients of prestigious French awards or members of honorary societies which recognized the quality of their work.
Because we were there so early, we were treated to a super treat. The quality of all of the products was truly amazing and since it wasn't very crowded at this point, the artists were very chatty and willing to discuss their work. Most were bilingual which makes it much easier for me to converse in French with them. If I don't know a word, they can supply it and we can continue in French. Basically, it is getting harder and harder for them to make a living. Most galleries or exposition halls take 50% of each sale. At this particular venue, they paid a fee to display their art but then they also had to report any sales, especially those charged on a credit card so the government would also take a cut. Bottom line, even if successful, they aren't going to get rich. Most of them are doing it because they love their work.
We chatted quite a bit with a woman whose work we really thought was beautiful. She makes figures in bronze. Each one is unique and takes anywhere from 4 weeks to a few months to make.She has a book that shows each step in the process. So, you can really comprehend how much work goes into each piece. For the amount of time that it takes her to carve the wax model to the completion of a piece, the prices are quite reasonable. But, if you don't understand what has gone into each one, the prices would seem high. I am very very happy because I happen to know that a piece I really admired will be coming home with me! (Ed, got it for my birthday which is next week.)
